New Vikings running back Aaron Jones excited about the Justin Jefferson effect

New Vikings running back Aaron Jones played with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and receiver Davante Adams for six of his seven seasons in Green Bay. So he’s familiar with the gravitational pull that a star receiver can have on a defense, and how that extra attention — like two deep safeties instead of one — can open running lanes for him.

During Jones’ first week of practices with Justin Jefferson, who Monday signed a four-year, $140 million extension, they already were looking forward to that kind of relationship.

Jones said he told Jefferson on Tuesday, “‘Man, I’m ready to get on the field with you. You’re going to make my job easier.’

“He’s like, ‘Nah, you’re going to make my job easier.’ I guess that’s what we’re here for - to make each other’s jobs easier. He’s going to take some attention off me, and hopefully I can do the same for him.”

Jones, 29, was cut by the Packers in March after declining a second pay cut in as many years. He quickly signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, pairing a Pro Bowl talent with a lackluster run game. The Vikings’ rushing attack has ranked 23rd and 26th in yards per carry during head coach Kevin O’Connell’s two seasons.

Jones, who also has more than 2,000 career receiving yards, said he can learn from Jefferson, too.

“I just got to kind of sit and watch him and some of the routes he runs,” Jones said. “We may have similar concepts where I may be running something similar to him. So just kind of watching him, watching Jordan Addison; both of those guys, I think they’re special receivers.”

What does Jones think this offense can achieve?

“It really excites me,” Jones said. “I played with a No. 1 receiver, and now being here with a No. 1 receiver, and then two No. 1s, if you ask me, three No. 1s, sorry let’s keep going – you throw T.J. [Hockenson] in there. It’s just like, who are you going to guard?”

“I think the matchups we can get against the defense are pretty much always going to be in our favor,” he added, “and I think it’s going to be hard to stop.”

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, the former Texans starter who signed a four-year deal with the Vikings in free agency, has a new thing going in Minnesota. After each practice open to reporters, Greenard has led a small circle of 10 to 15 players in a core muscle routine. It’s an assertive step from the 27-year-old veteran on a young team. Only 28-year-old edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel is older than Greenard in a position room that features four rookies, including first-round pick Dallas Turner.

“Just be myself,” Greenard said after Wednesday’s practice. “I haven’t had to do much of anything else. You see this abs thing I brought from Houston, just kind of got into a routine a little bit, and I think everybody’s drawn toward that because they see the benefits. ... These guys are so young, they’re eager and hungry to make some plays and win.”

Nearly all of the Vikings’ projected 22 starters have been on the field through two days of a three-day mandatory minicamp, except for recovering veterans Hockenson (knee) and Van Ginkel (foot). Safety Camryn Bynum (undisclosed) also has spent time rehabbing while being limited in practice.

Receiver Jalen Nailor and tight end Nick Muse have been absent this week, while second-year cornerback NaJee Thompson has rehabbed an undisclosed injury on a side field.

Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been relaying play calls in the huddle during practices this week, and head coach Kevin O’Connell first mentioned the second-year defender when asked about who will take over for veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks in that role. One defender can wear the in-helmet speaker during games, or the “green-dot helmet,” to hear defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ calls.

“He’s had a very good spring [with] just the type of communication [Flores] is putting on his plate,” O’Connell said of Pace. “We also want to have Blake Cashman and Kamu Grugier-Hill ready to handle some of that green dot work.”