The Minnesota Vikings’ offense lacked punch without Aaron Jones, who went down with a hip injury in Week 5, leaving him “week-to-week” according to head coach Kevin O’Connell. Without him, the Vikings struggled, amassing only five rushing yards in the second half of their tight 23-17 victory over the New York Jets on October 6, as backup Ty Chandler couldn’t find his rhythm. The run-game woes kept the offense from putting the game away in the second half.
Even when Jones, 30, returns, the Vikings remain vulnerable to similar issues. With a 5-0 record entering the bye week, Minnesota should consider strengthening the running back position. One possible solution is Cleveland Browns star Nick Chubb, who could be available.
Chubb, coming back from a torn ACL and MCL suffered in Week 2 of the 2023 season, has returned to practice and is nearing a comeback for a Browns team that appears to be unraveling at 1-4 ahead of their Week 6 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Deshaun Watson experiment hasn’t gone as planned, and Cleveland may look to trade veteran players to begin a rebuild.
Chubb, 28, is in the final year of a renegotiated contract post-injury and would cost just $1.3 million against the cap this year. He was a four-time Pro Bowler before the injury, but with his age and contract situation, the Browns may be ready to move on. A trade could see the Vikings send a fifth-round pick to Cleveland to acquire Chubb, bolstering their playoff-bound roster.
In Minnesota, the backfield could be shared between Jones and Chubb, keeping both players fresh and maintaining productivity.
Chubb’s Stats Stack Up with Jones’ Performance Despite mediocre run-blocking, Jones has sparked Minnesota’s running game this season. He ranks high in yards after contact, a crucial statistic for evaluating a running back’s ability to create yardage.
Alec Lewis from The Athletic highlighted Jones’ after-contact yardage, emphasizing the Vikings’ potential need to add another running back during the bye week. “Jones is averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season, ranking in the top six among starting NFL running backs. His 3.55 yards after contact are fourth-best in the league,” Lewis wrote. Jones has consistently made up for poor blocking with his after-contact production.
Chubb’s 2022 stats align closely with Jones’, averaging 3.48 yards after contact, and his career average sits at 3.93 yards per carry, according to Pro Football Focus. While bolstering the running back room, the Vikings may also need to reassess their offensive line, especially given guard Ed Ingram’s struggles in pass protection.
Veteran Dalton Risner, currently recovering from a back injury, could step in as the Vikings explore possible changes to their starting lineup, as Ingram has allowed the second-most pressures (17) among players at his position.
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