Aaron Jones

Vikings To Place RB Aaron Jones On IR

September 16th, 2025 at 4:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minnesota’s action-packed transaction day now includes a significant IR move. As it turns out, the Cam Akers signing will foreshadow an Aaron Jones trip off the active roster.

The Vikings are placing their starting running back on IR, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He suffered a hamstring injury against the Falcons, joining J.J. McCarthy in encountering a significant setback in the loss. This could well precede an Akers trip back to Minnesota’s active roster. For the foreseeable future, though, it will be Jordan Mason operating as the Vikes’ starting RB.

Jones re-signed with the Vikings on a two-year, $20MM deal — a raise from last year — after posting his fourth NFL 1,000-yard rushing season. The former fifth-round Packers pick has been one of the league’s better backs since debuting in 2017, and he played a lead role in the Vikings’ 14-3 showing last year. Jones’ 1,546 scrimmage yards came close to toppling his career-best mark, and he played a full season for the second time this decade.

At 30, however, Jones is on the older end of the RB spectrum. Injuries can be expected, though this will only be his second IR trip. The Packers placed Jones on IR due to a knee injury in 2018. While Jones has missed time since, he has avoided any IR stays during his run as a well-paid RB. Jones played in at least 14 games in all but one season from 2019-24. In the year he did not hit that threshold — an 11-game 2019 — the dynamic RB powered the Pack to a divisional-round berth.

Jones missed time in 2023 due to hamstring and MCL maladies; upon return, he submitted one of the best stretches of his career. Jones rampaged for five straight 100-yard rushing games between Week 16 and the divisional round. His three rushing scores led the Pack to a stunning wild-card rout of the Cowboys in Round 1 that year. That came after the Packers reduced his 2023 pay. After Jones balked at another Packers pay-cut attempt, they released him. The Vikings received considerable value on their subsequent one-year, $7MM agreement, but their two-year re-signing is not off to a strong start.

Minnesota saw Jones go down during a Week 2 loss to Atlanta. This came after the team gave Mason a substantial Week 1 role, moving this backfield to a committee setup after Jones worked as the clear leading man in 2024. Mason is also on a two-year deal (worth $10.5MM), but both players’ 2026 guarantees stand at $2MM. That will give Minnesota some flexibility on Jones, who may well need to submit a strong finish to an already-injury-marred season to return for a third Vikings slate. Mason is all but certain to be on the team’s 2026 roster, and the ex-49ers backup has a long runway to prove himself now.

This will mark the second straight year Mason is needed to replace a 2017 RB draftee early in a season. Christian McCaffrey‘s Achilles trouble kept him off the field to start last season, and Mason shined as a fill-in. Mason did end his 2024 season on IR due to a high ankle sprain, but he drew a second-round RFA tender from the 49ers. That became a precursor to a March trade.

Akers’ experience in Kevin O’Connell‘s system should matter, but the team will likely lean on the offseason trade acquisition while using Akers and Zavier Scott (one career game) as backup options. Akers is on the Vikes’ practice squad but can be elevated three times without a corresponding roster move being necessary.

QB J.J. McCarthy May Miss Multiple Weeks

September 15th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

J.J. McCarthy was able to finish last night’s game for the Vikings, but at least one contest spent on the sidelines appears to be in store. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) the second-year quarterback is likely to miss Week 3.

An ankle sprain is to blame for the (expected) missed time. O’Connell added a move to injured reserve is not expected, but a firm timetable is not currently in place (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). For at least Minnesota’s upcoming game, it looks as though Carson Wentz will be tasked with handling starting duties. Seifert’s colleague Adam Schefter reports a recovery timeline of two to four weeks could be in store.

McCarthy struggled through the first three quarters of his debut in Week 1. The 2024 No. 10 pick rallied in the fourth to lead the Vikings to a win. Last night against the Falcons, no such resurgence took place. Minnesota lost 22-6 during a game in which the team managed only 10 first downs. McCarthy was sacked six times and intercepted twice. O’Connell did note on Monday the 22-year’s absence (should he miss Week 3) will be strictly based on the injury, not his performance.

A meniscus tear suffered during the preseason last summer resulted in surgery for McCarthy. The Michigan product managed to rehab to the point where he was fully cleared in time for training camp, though. Handling first-team reps throughout the summer, he entered the year with high expectations based on his draft stock and O’Connell’s track record with respect to maximizing the potential of his quarterbacks. Things have not gone according to plan so far in terms of production, and now this ailment stands to delay McCarthy’s development process to an extent.

Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones both departed in free agency knowing the starting position would be handed down to McCarthy. Their absences left Sam Howell in place to handle QB2 duties once he was traded from the Seahawks to the Vikings during the draft. More recently, however, Howell was dealt from Minnesota to Philadelphia with the Vikings electing to sign Wentz late in free agency.

The 32-year-old has made 94 starts in his career, with his most recent spell atop a depth chart coming in Washington in 2022. Wentz served as a backup with the Rams the following year and then did the same with the Chiefs last season. A short stint at the helm early in his Minnesota tenure now looks to be in store.

O’Connell also said on Monday that running back Aaron Jones is unlikely to play against the Bengals in Week 3. With multiple starters up front in danger of remaining sidelined for that game as well, Wentz could find himself at the helm of a notably shorthanded unit.

NFC North Notes: Anzalone, Vikings, Johnson

August 3rd, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

It has become clear this offseason that Alex Anzalone is seeking a new pact. The ninth-year linebacker said at the start of training camp that he is “disappointed” with the state of his financial situation with the Lions.

Talks on an arrangement of some kind continued in the wake of Anzalone’s comments, however. While signs still point to no extension being worked out for the pending 2026 free agent, a contract adjustment covering this season has taken place. Anzalone and the Lions recently worked out a restructure, ESPN’s Field Yates notes.

The 30-year-old will see a $250K bump in his $6MM base salary (which is now guaranteed). Per Yates, the new pact also contains incentives which could increase Anzalone’s earnings for 2025. Adding further details on that point, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press specifies there is $750K in new money available via playtime incentives. Anzalone remains on track for free agency next spring, but his fifth Lions campaign could now see him collect as much as $1MM more than what he was originally owed.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:

Christian Darrisaw resumed practicing in June, but he did so while still awaiting full clearance. The Vikings’ left tackle has been able to participate in training camp on a limited basis, but Emily Leiker of the Minnesota Star Tribune writes no timeline exists for when he will be fully involved. As a result, it remains to be seen if Darrisaw – who tore his ACL and MCL in October – will be available for the start of the season. The 26-year-old is on the books through 2029 thanks to his $76MM extension signed last summer.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Jaylon Johnson continues to rehab the leg ailment which he encountered before the start of training camp. A multi-week absence was known to be in store, but it is still unclear when the two-time Pro Bowler will be available. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said (via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times) Week 1 is the target in this case. The rookie HC said “there’s a scenario” in which the five-year veteran is back for the start of the year, a somewhat concerning update on the situation given its initial outlook. One month remains for Johnson to heal and avoid a stint on the PUP list in September.
The Vikings managed to retain Aaron Jones on a two-year deal this spring, allowing him to remain in place after a career-high in rushing yards last season. 2024 also saw the 30-year-old handle the heaviest workload of his NFL tenure with 255 carries, however. Minnesota targeted a more balanced approach in the backfield, something which resulted in the trade acquisition of Jordan Mason. The snap share between Jones and Mason is yet to be determined, but ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes something closer to a 50-50 split is likelier in 2025 than past years under Kevin O’Connell. Mason’s 153 carries last year marked a major uptick in usage with the 49ers last season, and he figures to play a key role on offense with his new team.
The Lions recently announced a number of staffing changes (h/t Seifert’s colleague Eric Woodyard). Dan Corzine‘s new title is director of scouting operations (in addition to assistant to the general manager). Meanwhile, Michael Pelfrey is now Detroit’s manager of scouting advancement. Austin White and Bri Howard are in place as personnel assistants while Brandon Clark is in the fold as a scouting assistant.

Vikings, Aaron Jones Agree To Deal

March 9th, 2025 at 3:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Aaron Jones will continue his Vikings stay. The veteran running back has agreed to a two-year, $20MM deal, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

The pact includes $13MM in guarantees, nearly double what Jones took last offseason on his one-year Minnesota pact. Of that total, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. The longtime Packers starter was a cap casualty in advance of the team’s decision to make a long-term commitment to Josh Jacobs. That resulted in Jones making the intra-divisional move, one which proved to be fruitful.

The 30-year-old handled a career-high 255 carries during his debut Vikings season; Jones also set a new personal mark with 1,138 rushing yards. Topping 1,500 scrimmage yards for the third time in his career, the veteran demonstrated he can still be effective in leading a backfield. He will be counted on to do so again with this new agreement in place.

Jones said in January he aims to finish his career in Minnesota, and today’s news is a step in that direction. A mutual interest existed from the team to work out a new agreement, with Jones’ void date being pushed back to March 11. That decision gave the parties additional time to hammer out a contract without any dead money charges from the 2024 one coming into play.

After Jones racked up 306 touches in the regular season, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team would look to reduce his workload in the event a new deal were to be worked out. As a result, Minnesota could be in play for a modest free agent investment in the backfield or the addition of a rookie sometime in April’s draft. The Vikings only have four picks as things stand, though, so other positions could be seen as a higher priority.

Minnesota will have Jones on the books as well as Ty Chandler in the backfield. Cam Akers is a pending free agent, and if he were to depart the team would need to add depth over the course of the offseason. Regardless of what plays out on that front, Jones will be in line to remain the Vikings’ lead back.

NFC North Notes: Garrett, Lions, Pack, Vikes

March 2nd, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Before the Lions zeroed in on Za’Darius Smith at the 2024 deadline, they asked the Browns about their other starting defensive end. As calls came in for Myles Garrett months before his trade request, ESPN’s Kimberley Martin notes the Lions showed the most interest. At the time (as is the case now), the Browns were not interested in moving Garrett. It is interesting that the Lions pursued Garrett and then completed a deal with the same team for Smith, acquiring the two-year Garrett sidekick in a pick-swap deal. Smith is on the radar to stay in Detroit, at a lower rate compared to his two-year, $23MM deal agreed to in 2023. The Lions needed a D-end, having lost Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport for the season, but the Browns did not budge. It would be tough for the Lions to swing a Garrett deal now, as Hutchinson moves toward a market-setting extension.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

While Hutchinson will be on the Lions’ extension radar, the team will have two years of rookie-deal control after it exercises the standout pass rusher’s fifth-year option. That did not delay the Lions on Penei Sewell, which will make Hutchinson a player to monitor in an explosive edge defender offseason. The Lions, however, have only this year left on Kerby Joseph‘s rookie deal. The All-Pro safety is targeting an extension, indicating (during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show) he wants to be a “life-long Lion.” Joseph could be a 2026 franchise tag candidate, if nothing transpires on that front before the 2026 free agency period, as the team also has Brian Branch likely in its future extension queue. Branch has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
Staying on the subject of extensions, Quay Walker is a candidate for a 2025 Packers payday. Because rush and non-rush linebackers are grouped together on the fifth-year option formula, Walker’s option will check in at $14.75MM. No team has picked up an ILB fifth-year option since 2022 (Devin White), and Brian Gutekunst (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) did not make it sound like Walker would be an exception. “The linebacker for the fifth-year option is a little wonky because there’s so many edge guys that are part of that, which drives up that number, which probably isn’t great,” Gutekunst said. “But yeah, we’d like to find a way to keep Quay around here long-term, whether that be an extension or something.” The three-year starter will be in a contract year if/when the Pack decline his option.
Josh Myers should have a nice free agency market, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds the four-year starter did not suffer an injury during the Packers’ wild-card loss to the Eagles. Healthy heading into free agency, Myers may check in as the second-best center option (behind the Falcons’ Drew Dalman) on this year’s market. Gutekunst praised Myers after the season, and the former second-rounder wants to stay. The Packers, who let center Corey Linsley walk before drafting Myers, also have a potential Zach Tom extension to prepare for this year.
If the Vikings are to re-sign Aaron Jones, something Kevin O’Connell would be in favor of, they would plan to reduce his workload, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. Compiling a career-high 306 touches, the 30-year-old RB totaled 1,546 scrimmage yards — also the second-most in his career. The ex-Packer said he wants to stay in Minnesota, and his void date has been pushed back to March 11, giving the Vikes more time on a re-signing. Jones’ workload came in part because the Vikings lost faith in Ty Chandler, Seifert adds, leading to their second Cam Akers trade.
Neither Ed Ingram nor Blake Brandel are locks to be blocking for whichever running back the Vikings start in 2025. Brandel will see $1.65MM of his $2.6MM base salary become guaranteed on March 14, while the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling notes Ingram — who lost his RG job last season — is “highly unlikely” to be brought back at a $5.2MM base salary (thanks to the NFL’s proven performance escalator program) in the final year of his second-round deal.

Aaron Jones, Vikings Push Back Void Date On Contract

February 15th, 2025 at 9:38am CST by Ben Levine

Aaron Jones‘ one-year deal with the Vikings contained four void years to lessen the blow on Minnesota’s 2024 cap sheet. February 17 was a crucial date for the contract, as Jones would have officially hit free agency while leaving the Vikings with a notable dead cap hit in 2025.

Both sides bought themselves some time this morning. ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Jones and the Vikings agreed to move the upcoming void date to March 11, the day before free agency officially opens.

As Yates notes, this provides the two sides some extra time to negotiate a new contract before free agency. Today’s deadline adjustment doesn’t guarantee that the running back will re-sign with the organization. Still, it certainly bodes better for Jones’ future in Minnesota than if the front office had simply let the void years hit on Monday.

After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Packers, Jones inked a one-year, $7MM deal with the Vikings last offseason. Thanks to those previously mentioned void years, the veteran RB was only attached to a $3.5MM cap hit in 2024. However, that contract construct also meant the Vikings were on the hook for a $3.5MM dead cap for 2025 if Jones didn’t stick around. That pseudo-financial commitment will likely have some influence on how the Vikings front office approaches the position this offseason, as it will likely make more financial sense to retain Jones than pivot to another veteran.

Beyond the financial commitment, it sounds like both Jones and the Vikings were happy with their one-year partnership. We heard recently that the 30-year-old wants to keep playing in Minnesota, and coach Kevin O’Connell has publicly expressed interest in retaining his RB1 (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert).

The Vikings got as much as they could out of Jones during the 2024 season, handing the RB a career-high 306 touches. While Jones’ efficiency took a bit of a hit this past season, he still put up impressive counting stats, particularly his 1,546 yards from scrimmage. Considering his 2024 workload, Seifert cautions that the Vikings could be eyeing more of a committee-style approach to their RBs room in 2025.

Aaron Jones Wants To Re-Sign With Vikings

January 2nd, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Jones‘ seven Packers seasons featured regular roles but saw the talented running back cede plenty of carries to the likes of Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon. Despite having just turned 30, the veteran back has held an unquestioned starting post with the Vikings.

The eighth-year performer has already surpassed his career high in carries (245), producing his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season. Although the Packers were not exactly proven wrong for their Josh Jacobs signing, Jones has fared well with a division rival — one that has soared to a 14-2 record. Jones has joined Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson in one of the NFL’s best skill-position armadas.

Agreeing to a one-year, $7MM deal, Jones joins Sam Darnold as key Vikings cogs unsigned for 2025. With Darnold perhaps not quite as likely to see free agency thanks to his strong performance this season, Jones is not interested in testing the market again, preferring to stay in the Twin Cities and conclude an NFC North-only career.

“I hope to be here until the end of my career,” Jones said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. “Honestly, this is an excellent place.”

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst had said Jones was in the Packers’ 2024 plans, but that was contingent on the former fifth-round find taking a substantial pay cut. Jones balked and hit the market, landing in Minnesota soon after Green Bay’s Jacobs agreement. Jones had already accepted a Packers trim in 2023, playing a central role — via five straight 100-yard rushing games to close out last season — in the team journeying to the divisional round and pushing the eventual NFC champion 49ers once there. Jones is all set to play in another playoff game, perhaps after a first-round bye — which would be the Vikings’ first since 2017 — should the team upend the Lions on Sunday night.

The Vikings are projected to hold plenty of cap space come March, sitting on more than $76MM. That ranks sixth leaguewide. Though, if the Vikings truly entertain franchise-tagging Darnold, their roster math changes considerably. A quarterback tag would cost upwards of $40MM, and although the Vikes’ cap-space number will look different by the start of the new league year than it does now, that is a significant chunk of space that would disappear in the event Minnesota keeps its surging quarterback off the market.

Even post-30, Jones would presumably have suitors elsewhere as well. He has amassed 1,093 rushing yards (4.5 per carry) and added 378 through the air. With 22 receiving yards against Detroit, Jones will produce just the second 400-yard receiving season of his career. While he has also matched his career high in fumbles, with five, the former Packers regular also will draw interest on a market depleted by the recent extensions given to Chuba Hubbard, Rhamondre Stevenson and James Conner. Alvin Kamara also being off the board, thanks to a Saints re-up that ensured he will not be cut (which had loomed as a likely scenario on his previous deal), also stands to benefit Jones.

The Vikings have Ty Chandler signed for one more season, but the team has used Cam Akers — acquired via trade for the second straight season — over the homegrown back in recent weeks. Akers is unsigned beyond this season. It will be interesting to see if Jones receives an offer to stay or is allowed to test the market once again.

NFL Injury Updates: Harbaugh, Jones, Gray

October 13th, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Chargers experienced a strange scare during today’s win over the division-rival Broncos when head coach Jim Harbaugh left the field for a short period due to what was reported as “illness.” According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh informed reporters that he went to the locker room to deal with an atrial flutter episode.

AJ Ross of NFL on CBS spoke with Harbaugh, who told her “he was dealing with arrhythmia…something he’s been dealing with on and off for a while.” If that’s the case, it’s likely something his employers were aware of, prompting the team to have a plan in place for situations like today.

The heart episode appears to be a non-issue for now, as Harbaugh returned to the sideline and continued coaching his team to victory. That said, if the issue persists, Harbaugh’s presence on the sideline may not be guaranteed moving forward. If the new head coach continues to miss any game time, the Chargers will need to make sure their order of operations behind Harbaugh is effective.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

Vikings running back Aaron Jones left last weekend’s win over the Jets early with a hip injury. According to Schefter, Jones is going to be week-to-week because of the hip issue. Luckily for Minnesota, the team had a bye in Week 6, allowing their veteran rusher to rest for a little over a week. He reportedly avoided major injury, but his practice report this week will show just how lucky he was.
Titans rookie linebacker Cedric Gray was designated to return from injured reserve earlier this week. Tennessee has no plans to rush the 24-year-old back from IR, though, as Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com reports that the team plans to utilize most of Gray’s 21-day practice window before activating him. There’s always a chance that Gray is not able to return after the 21 days and is returned to IR for the remainder of the year.

Vikings’ T.J. Hockenson Could Miss Start Of Season; Latest On J.J. McCarthy

August 15th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings’ big-picture plan features J.J. McCarthy targeting the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. That vision is on hold, with the rookie out for the season due to meniscus surgery. Minnesota might not have all its skill-position pieces to open the campaign, either.

Hockenson sustained ACL and MCL tears in Week 16 last season. While Kevin O’Connell has classified the veteran tight end as ahead of schedule, it is far from certain he starts the season on time. The former Lions first-rounder remains on the Vikings’ active/PUP list, and ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert indicates the team setting its initial 53-man roster without its starting tight end included is in play.

Minnesota could shift Hockenson to the reserve/PUP list, which mandates a four-game absence to open the year. This route would prevent the Vikings from needing to use one of their eight regular-season IR activations. The Vikings could also go week to week with their top tight end, activating him from the active/PUP list and declaring him out to start the season. This would allow Minnesota to deploy Hockenson before Week 4, if he is ready, but he would take up a roster spot in that scenario.

Eight months have not even passed since Hockenson’s injury, and although players have recovered from late-season ACL tears in time for Week 1 (a certain former Vikings running back-turned-MVP comes to mind), teams regularly play it safe here. Hockenson signed a four-year, $66MM extension just before last season and was on track for a 1,000-yard showing before going down. The five-year veteran finished with 960 yards and five touchdowns, despite Kirk Cousins‘ midseason injury. Hockenson, 27, will be a critical piece of Minnesota’s Darnold-led offense upon return.

Darnold was expected to start to open the season, but McCarthy was unlikely to sit a full year. The Vikings now have no choice, and even though ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the rookie’s timetable could allow for a late-season re-emergence, it is unlikely the team takes this route. Given the investment in the Michigan prospect, it should be expected the team shelves him for his rookie year to protect him in the long term. McCarthy missing all of 2024 will make him the first Round 1 QB to do so in the common draft era (1967-present), per CBS Sports.

McCarthy’s timetable may not allow him to play with Aaron Jones, who signed a one-year deal worth $7MM in March. Jones’ year-to-year status may point him elsewhere by 2025, depending on how the longtime Packer’s Vikings season goes. Jones’ role will be interesting to monitor, as Green Bay consistently put him as the 1-A option in timeshares with Jamaal Williams and then AJ Dillon. Minnesota might have the same idea.

Ty Chandler is expected to platoon with Jones, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, with the team viewing this setup as an upgrade on its Alexander Mattison-dependent 2023 plan. That said, the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer adds Jones is the unquestioned starter.

One of this era’s best running backs, Jones has never eclipsed 236 carries in a season; the former fifth-round pick has passed 200 totes just three times in his seven-year run. Williams and Dillon cut into the dual-threat talent’s workload, though Jones rarely left doubt about who the Packers’ most dangerous RB was. Jones will also turn 30 before season’s end and missed six games last season, so it would not surprise to see Chandler — a 2022 fifth-round pick who impressed late last season — carve out a decent workload in a Vikings effort to conserve their new starter.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Reader

March 31st, 2024 at 7:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Coleman Shelton started every Rams game at center last season, and the former UDFA logged a few starts there during the 2022 season. The Bears gave Shelton only a one-year, $3MM deal, however. Already rostering guards Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis, the Bears may view Shelton as a backup. This is because Chicago acquired Ryan Bates from Buffalo. Given a Bears RFA offer sheet in 2022, Bates remains attached to that contract (four years, $17MM). He looks more likely to be the favorite for Bears center duties than Shelton, ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin notes.

Bates, 27, does not have a notable history at center. At Penn State, he primarily played left tackle. The Bills used him primarily at guard, with Mitch Morse previously entrenched at center. Despite Buffalo matching the 2022 Chicago offer sheet, the team added two new guards — Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence — in 2023. Bates did not start a game for the Bills last season, but the ex-UDFA looks set to have a good shot at taking over at center for the Bears.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

The Bears’ four-year, $76MM Jaylon Johnson extension features an out in 2026. The deal calls for $10.6MM of Johnson’s $15.1MM 2026 base salary to be guaranteed for injury, but no skill guarantees are in place beyond 2025. KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes $7.6MM of Johnson’s 2026 base will shift to a full guarantee if the Pro Bowl cornerback is on the roster by that date. With no true guarantees on this deal post-2025, the Bears could get out with just $5MM in dead money (in the event of a post-June 1 cut) in 2026.
The Vikings have been active in using void years under GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. This practice cost the team when Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Tomlinson departed, but it is turning to cap space-saving measure heavily this year as well. Minnesota included four void years in Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones and Andrew Van Ginkel‘s deals, with three void years used to spread out the three-year, $22.5MM Blake Cashman contract’s cap hits. While this will create some dead money if these players are not re-signed before their contracts officially expire, the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling observes it created some cap space in the event the Vikes need to carry a bigger 2024 cap number for Justin Jefferson, who has been on the extension radar for two years. That said, Jefferson’s 2024 cap figure is already at $19.7MM on the fifth-year option.
Looking elsewhere on the Vikings’ payroll, their Jonathan Greenard deal (four years, $76MM) features $42MM in total guarantees. The contract includes $4MM guaranteed for 2026, per Goessling. Though, that money is classified as injury guarantees, providing the Vikes — like the Bears with Johnson — some flexibility down the road on a $19MM-AAV contract.
Rounding up some Minnesota contract matters, Goessling adds Shaquill Griffin‘s one-year contract is worth $4.55MM and features $3.99MM fully guaranteed. The Vikings are giving Jonathan Bullard a one-year, $2.25MM deal to stay, per Goessling, who adds Dan Feeney‘s contract to come over from the Bears is worth $1.8MM. Jonah Williams, the defensive lineman, signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal that includes $350K guaranteed, Goessling offers. Jihad Ward‘s one-year accord is worth $1.8MM and includes $1MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
Initially labeled as being worth up to $27.25MM, D.J. Reader‘s Lions pact contains $22MM in base value. The Lions are only guaranteeing the veteran nose tackle $7.4MM at signing, per OverTheCap. Coming off his second quad tear in four years, Reader would receive a $4MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2025 league year. That date will certainly be pivotal for his Detroit future.
Arrested on a fourth-degree DWI charge in December, Vikings OC Wes Phillips pleaded guilty to a lesser charge recently. The third-year Minnesota OC pleaded guilty to a careless driving charge, Fox 9’s Jeff Wald notes. Phillips, 45, agreed to pay a $378 fine and will serve eight hours of community service.

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