Minnesota Vikings fans may be frustrated with Aaron Jones over his fumbling issues over the past couple of weeks but their anger may pale in comparison to one of Jones’ biggest fans – his mom.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, Jones revealed that his mom showed no mercy after he fumbled twice and was temporarily benched during last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.
“She said they needed to sit you down. She was like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on, but they need to take you out of the game. They need to bench him right now.’
Anytime I hear from my mom, it’s going to be worse. I was like, ‘I gotta learn from it.’ and she said, ‘You didn’t learn from it last week?’ and I was like, ‘Damn, mom…’ I kind of didn’t know what to say, but it’s what I need.”
Minnesota Vikings need RB Aaron Jones to stop fumbline
To put it kindly, the Vikings need Jones to regain his ball security and his mother may be the one to deliver the message. Growing up in a military family, Jones was always accustomed to tough love from his father, Alvin Jones Sr., but after he passed away from complications from COVID-19 in 2021, his mother, Vurgess, has taken the mantle.
“My mom, being hard on me, that was my dad for so many years. My dad’s not here so now my mom’s kind of took the role over without me asking her. So it’s kind of a little eye-opening when your dad is on you, and your mom is the one rubbing your back it’s okay, and now it’s mom getting on you and not too many…nobody is back there saying it’s ok.”
Jones can laugh about his fumbling issues with his mother, but they’ve become a growing concern throughout the second half of the season. Jones has set a career-high with six fumbles and it’s his most since fumbling five times during the 2022 season.
Jones only fumbled once in his first five games with the Vikings before fumbling four times in the past three weeks. The rough stretch comes as Jones is nursing a rib injury suffered in a Nov. 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and may make it difficult to put pressure on the ball but Jones is trying to work through the issue by holding his kids like a football.
“A football ain’t that heavy so if I can hold them and not drop them, I should be good. Just holding them with both hands and getting some practice until my arms get tired.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell also shouted his support for Jones during his postgame speech after the win over the Cardinals, and for good reason as Ty Chandler (two carries, two yards) and Cam Akers (four carries, 22 yards) combined for 24 yards on six attempts while Jones was on the sidelines.
It remains to be seen whether Vurgess Jones’s message will get through to her son, but Aaron Jones is happy to have her in his corner. Even if it means a harsh truth here or there.
“She definitely had it in her. She’s seen it for years, years and years but I’m really thankful. It’s those conversations with my mom that give me clarity and gives me a different perspective and a different view as well. Thankful to have her.”