Aaron Jones, who exited the game early vs. Detroit, was faced with a hefty fine for the use of his helmet. The NFL has been cracking down on plays like this, even though most of the time they don’t result in flags on the field. Jones, who has been nursing injuries all season, must now pay quite a significant fine on top of making sure he’s ready to go in Week 10.
NFL Fines Aaron Jones $23,186 For Unnecessary Roughness
According to the video posted by Tom Pelissero, Jones’ use of the helmet was enough to warrant a fine that is just over $23K. Some people don’t even make that much money in a year, but that’s the fine the NFL has decided on for Jones.
The video shows Jones receiving a pass with the Vikings trailing the Lions, 7-0. It’s third and ten as Jones begins his burst downfield. He got the 10 yards with ease, but when a Lions defender came his way, he put his head down and tried to avoid the tackle. Whether he was trying to make first contact or not, he did so with his helmet which is an automatic no.
The NFL fined Vikings RB Aaron Jones $23,186 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet) on this play last week in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/c1TMloaqUK
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 8, 2025
NFL’s use of the guardian cap is one of many ways they are trying to cut back on concussions. They aren’t only trying to cut back on head injuries, but injuries in general. From banning the hip drop tackle to fining players for plays like this, the league is doing everything in its power to limit these types of plays, if not eliminate them entirely.
At the end of the day, Jones got the first down and was thrilled. He wasn’t flagged and wasn’t forced to think twice about what transpired on the field. Now, one day before the Vikings are set to play the Baltimore Ravens, he’s met with a huge fine. He wasn’t the only one fined from Week 9, but that doesn’t make it any less of a hit to his wallet.
Jones seems to be good to go for his game on November 9 against the Ravens. The Vikings were thrilled to have him back against the Lions, and while he didn’t play the entire game, he made quite an impact. Jones finished with nine carries for 78 yards and two receptions for 20 yards. He’s not listed in PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, though fellow RB Jordan Mason is 24th in the league with a C grade. Mason will continue to see fewer snaps with Jones back.