For the first time since Week 12, veteran running back Aaron Jones is listed on the Minnesota Vikings injury report.
On Wednesday, The Vikings shared their first injury report for their Week 15 game against the Chicago Bears next Monday, and Jones was listed as a limited practice participant because of an injured back.
Thursday's #Vikings injury report.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 12, 2024
The team held a walkthrough today and the report is an estimation. pic.twitter.com/KBOPE5jqUd
First Minnesota Vikings injury report for Week 15 vs. the Chicago Bears also reveals current status of Stephon Gilmore
In addition to Jones re-appearing on Minnesota's injury report, cornerback Stephon Gilmore was also listed as a non-participant on Wednesday due to his lingering hamstring injury.
Gilmore missed the Vikings' game against the Atlanta Falcons last week because of his injured hamstring, and while it's still early, it seems like he could potentially be on the sideline for Monday night's matchup with Chicago as well.
It's important to note that Minnesota's practice on Wednesday was just a walk-through, so the practice participation designations for Jones, Gilmore, and others are estimates. At the same time, these are still things to definitely keep an eye on as the Vikings prepare for their Week 15 game against the Bears.
Despite dealing with multiple injuries, Jones has appeared in all 13 games for Minnesota this season. So, the fact that he's been able to play through his injuries and not miss a contest yet this year is certainly a reason to remain optimistic about him suiting up against Chicago next Monday.
Over on the other sideline, the Bears are also dealing with a notable injury in their running back room as D'Andre Swift didn't practice on Wednesday because of an injured groin, and his backup, Roschon Johnson, also missed the team's practice due to a concussion.
Chicago's rushing attack already ranks in the bottom third of the NFL this season, so potentially not having their top two running backs available isn't going to make things any easier against a Vikings run defense that is currently allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards per attempt in the league this year.