Technically, the Vikings listed running back Aaron Jones as a limited participant on the injury report with a rib injury.

Not that he seems too concerned about it.

Talking to reporters Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center, Jones made himself clear, saying he plans to be available when the Vikings play the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.

“I feel a lot better,” Jones said. “A little sore. I’m working through it. I’ll be ready to go.”

The prognosis seemed much more grim last weekend with the Vikings trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars. After getting hit hard on a carry up the middle, Jones stayed on the ground for an extended period. He was helped to the sideline and carted to the locker room shortly after that.

Though the cart appeared to be a very bad sign for the Vikings at the time, Jones set the record straight this week, revealing that it was simply a mode of transportation with the X-ray machine on the other side of the stadium.

As soon as the results came back negative, Jones returned to the sideline and popped his helmet back on.

“I started feeling a little better, little better, little better,” Jones said. “I was moving around trying to get back out there.”

When did he know he was ready to go back into the game?

“I remember somebody told me to grab a football to test it out,” Jones said. “As soon as I put the football in my hand I was like, ‘All right, I’m good.’”

Fittingly, after returning to the game, Jones helped the Vikings put the finishing touches on an ugly win. Asked postgame whether the fact that the game was close played a role in his decision to push it, Jones said he would have pushed it even in a blowout.

“There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that goes into it,” Jones said. “When a game is taken away from me, I really feel it, so I didn’t want to miss any time.”

That mentality helps explain what exactly Jones has brought to the Vikings this season.

Never mind that he has 142 carries for 653 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go along with 28 receptions for 258 yards and a touchdown.

His leadership has been even more valuable.

“I look forward to playing,” Jones said. “It can be anywhere as long as I’m getting a chance to compete with my brothers.”

In other words, if Jones says he’s playing this weekend, it’s a pretty good bet he’ll be out there.

“Not my first time bruising up my ribs,” Jones said. “I knew I’d be sore for a few days, and after that I’d start turning over and that’s exactly what has happened.”

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