The Minnesota Vikings couldn’t carry over the spark from last week’s win over Detroit, falling 27–19 to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. It was one of those games where mistakes piled up with all those turnovers and penalties. But in the middle of all that, there was one steady bright spot: running back Aaron Jones. And quarterback JJ McCarthy had high praise for him.

“Tremendous leader, first off. He’s got that exuberant energy. Just so pure-hearted, you know exactly what he’s feeling. You know exactly what he’s asking out of you. Just the spark he gives to our offense in the run game, it’s just tremendous. The way he hits that straight downhill, as fast as he can at 100 miles an hour, it’s awesome to see,” McCarthy said in the post-game presser.

Jones did exactly that. He carried the ball nine times for 47 yards, caught three passes, and punched in his first rushing touchdown of the season, a four-yard burst that put Minnesota on the board early. After crossing the goal line, he celebrated with his signature “Bank Vault” celebration.

That touchdown gave the Vikings a 7–0 lead just five minutes in, a promising start that unraveled quickly as Minnesota’s offense coughed up three turnovers and committed 13 penalties. The self-inflicted mistakes erased what could’ve been a feel-good performance, especially for Jones, whose day had special meaning.

During the first quarter, the Vikings honored his mother, Vurness Jones, as part of their Miller Military Spotlight, recognizing both her and the late Alvin Jones Sr., who together served in the U.S. Army for a combined 56 years, each retiring as a sergeant major.

It really could’ve been a perfect day. A touchdown, a tribute, a win to tie it all together. Instead, the Vikings’ mistakes got in the way. To be fair, his day didn’t start too well either, as he got handed a penalty yesterday.

Aaron Jones fined $23,186

Aaron Jones found himself a little lighter in the wallet this weekend. The NFL hit the Vikings running back with a $23,186 fine for unnecessary roughness, stemming from a play in last week’s 27–24 win over the Lions.

The league ruled that Jones violated its policy on impermissible use of the helmet, penalizing him for lowering his head to initiate contact.

The incident came early in the first quarter, when Jones picked up 14 yards on a third-and-10 reception. As he fought for the first down, he appeared to dip his head and lead slightly with the crown of his helmet before being tackled by Thomas Harper.

The officials didn’t throw a flag at the time, but after reviewing the play later in the week, the league determined it crossed the line under Article 10 of the NFL rulebook. The section prohibits players from lowering their heads to make forcible contact with an opponent.

A few snaps later, JJ McCarthy found Justin Jefferson for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7–7. But for Jones, the real hit came days later when the fine notice arrived.

At first glance, the punishment feels steep. Jones isn’t a repeat offender under this rule. According to Spotrac, this is only his third career fine tied to an in-game incident over his nine NFL seasons. He’s not known as a reckless player, but the NFL has been pretty strict when it comes to handing out fines this year.