Latest Minnesota Vikings roster moves signal key player could miss Week 18 game vs. Green Bay Packers and beyond

Wednesday brought roster moves for the Minnesota Vikings, and it could possibly mean that Aaron Jones’ time in Minnesota is over.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick (28) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ahead of their Week 18 season finale against the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings have made an intriguing roster move. They signed running back Sincere McCormick to the practice squad and waived linebacker Austin Keys.

Keys has been a special teams stalwart for the Vikings this season after a really impressive preseason. He has the ample size and athleticism to grow into a contributor on defense, but an injury the last few weeks have been an issue. It’s not the waiving of Keys, who will likely end up on the practice squad, that stands out, but the addition of McCormick.

Signing of Sincere McCormick could mark the end of Aaron Jones with the Vikings

McCormick has spent his entire career with the Las Vegas Raiders, including playing in five games in 2024, registering 39 carries for 183 yards. He looked to be playing his way into a rotation, but that never came to fruition, as he ended up joining the Vikings.

Why would adding a practice squad running back send any kind of signal? The Vikings have two running backs dealing with injuries in Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. Jones has dealt with multiple injuries, including those to his shoulder, ankle, hip, and hamstring, while Mason missed last Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions with an ankle injury.

With Jones dealing with a lot of injuries, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him miss the game. It doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things, and keeping him from suffering another injury and letting his other injuries heal.

It also could end up meaning the end of his time in Minnesota. Jones has a cap hit of $14 million in 2026, and the Vikings can save a whopping $7.2 million by cutting him, and $9.2 million if they find a trade partner. With the Vikings currently projected to have -$50 million in effective salary cap space, it’s something that could realistically happen.

We will find out what the future holds for Jones in time, but this could be a signal of things to come.

Related Articles