The Detroit Lions are coming off a tough divisional loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 2, a defeat that stings a little more because it came at the hands of their longtime NFC North rival. It was also the return of Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had missed the previous five games with an injury. Despite Detroit keeping things close, the Vikings pulled out a 27–24 victory, evening their record at 4–4, while the Lions slipped to 5–3.
While Detroit escaped the matchup without any disciplinary issues from the league, one Vikings player wasn’t so lucky.
NFL Hands Out Discipline After Lions–Vikings Game
Each week during the regular season, the NFL releases its list of fines and penalties for player conduct from the previous week. The league emphasizes that these actions are designed “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.”
In the Week 9 disciplinary report, one Minnesota player was singled out for a costly mistake. Running back Aaron Jones was fined $23,186 for “unnecessary roughness” and “use of the helmet” during the game against Detroit.
The incident occurred after Jones caught a screen pass from McCarthy and picked up a first down. As the play ended, he lowered his helmet and delivered a hit to Lions safety Thomas Harper—a move the league deemed dangerous and unnecessary.
So, while the Vikings celebrated their win, Jones will be lighter in the wallet. Fortunately, his fine money won’t go to waste—the NFL directs all collected fines to charitable causes, including the Professional Athletes Foundation, which assists former players in need, and the NFL Foundation, which supports health, safety, and youth football initiatives.
According to the league, NFL staff members review game footage each week to determine if any plays warrant additional punishment, ensuring consistent accountability across all teams.
Lions Turn the Page Toward Washington
Now, the Lions are focused on their next challenge — a road matchup with the Washington Commanders on Sunday, November 9. Detroit will be playing with plenty of motivation after dropping back-to-back heartbreakers: last year’s 45–31 playoff loss to Washington and this recent defeat to Minnesota.
The Commanders, however, are struggling mightily this season. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is sidelined with a dislocated left elbow suffered on November 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, forcing veteran Marcus Mariota into action.
According to ESPN Research, Washington has lost three straight games by 20 or more points, just one shy of tying the longest such streak in franchise history.
For the Lions, this game presents a chance to regroup, regain confidence, and get back on track before the season’s second half heats up.
