The team announced the knee injury and the questionable tag during the fourth quarter. ESPN's box score has Jones at 8 carries for 26 yards and one catch for no gain. Jordan Mason finished as the lead back with 15 carries for 68 yards.
Beat reporters filled in the rest. ESPN's Kevin Seifert noted that Jones has been playing through a sprained left MCL and went straight to the blue medical tent after the hit. Alec Lewis said Jones was taken out on a speed-option run. Ben Goessling later saw him leave the tent and try to jog and cut on the sideline as he tested whether he could go back in. The Vikings had not given a diagnosis or an update after the game as of this posting.
That history is why this one matters more than a typical late-game scare. A back already managing a knee sprain who takes another hit to a knee is a real risk to miss time, even if the test on the sideline looked encouraging.
What RSO owners should do now: if you roster Jones, go get Mason if he is somehow still free in your league, and treat him as a must-hold either way. Mason out-carried Jones nearly two to one on Sunday and would be the first in line for early downs if Jones sits. Owners in deeper leagues should also check who sits third on the Vikings depth chart, since that back would see real snaps in a Jones absence.
Hold off on cutting or trading Jones at a discount until the team says more. A quick return is possible, and selling now locks in the worst price.
What to watch next: the Vikings' Monday injury update, any MRI news this week, and whether Jones is on the field when Wednesday practice opens. A missed practice early in the week would be the first sign he could sit next Sunday.
