UTEP Professional Athletes

UTEP in the NFL | Week of Sept. 13–19, 2026

UTEP's most prominent NFL alumnus just got a lot more carries.

Aaron Jones Sr. is set to take over as the featured back in Minnesota's offense after the Vikings placed co-starter Jordan Mason on injured reserve with a fractured thumb — a development that reshapes the backfield and puts Jones squarely under the spotlight heading into Week 2 and beyond.

The Mason Injury Opens the Door

Mason suffered the fractured thumb during Minnesota's 39–22 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Sept. 13 — a game in which he led the Vikings with 15 carries for 59 yards. Despite Mason's volume in that contest, Jones still made his mark: the UTEP product rushed for 40 yards and punched in a touchdown, providing a glimpse of what he's capable of when given room.

With Mason now sidelined on IR, Jones inherits what had been a shared backfield role and steps in as the clear lead back in Minnesota's offense. The transition is immediate and significant.

What to Expect from Jones

The upgrade in role isn't without nuance. Some analysts view Jones's situation as a sell-high opportunity given uncertainty about how Minnesota manages carries moving forward, while others are bullish on his standalone value as a weekly starter. Fantasy football angles aside, the football reality is straightforward: Jones is a proven veteran who now gets first crack at a full workload in a Vikings offense that just torched Green Bay by 17 points.

Jones has long been a reliable presence at the NFL level, and Miners fans know the roots of that durability trace back to El Paso. His Week 1 touchdown — even in a complementary role — signals he's in rhythm. A featured role could unlock a big stretch of the season.

The Rest of the Miner Roster

Jones is the headliner this week, but UTEP has representation scattered across the league. Guard Will Hernandez continues to hold down the interior line in Arizona, while Nik Needham is at free safety for the Jets. Roy Robertson-Harris brings pass-rush presence to the Giants' defensive line. Jacob Cowing is on the 49ers' receiver depth chart, and Eric Tomlinson is with the Chargers at tight end.

None of the other Miners generated notable news during the Sept. 13–19 window, but the collective footprint is a reminder that UTEP continues to develop NFL-caliber talent across multiple positions.

For now, though, Jones is the story — and if he capitalizes on this expanded role, he could be the best story in the Miner NFL alumni chapter all season.

UTEP in the NFL | Week 1, 2026

For Miners fans tracking their own in the league, the headline this week belongs to Aaron Jones Sr. — and it's a good one.

The Minnesota Vikings named Jones one of their offensive captains for the 2026 season, a distinction announced Thursday alongside quarterback Kyler Murray, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and offensive tackle Brian O'Neill. For the former UTEP running back, it's a meaningful leadership milestone: out of a full NFL roster, Jones earned a captaincy in his first season with the Vikings, a signal of the respect he's commanded in the locker room.

Jones enters Week 1 as Minnesota's unquestioned starting running back heading into a matchup against the Green Bay Packers — a rivalry that carries personal history for the longtime Packer-turned-Viking. The captaincy is the feel-good story, but there's a footnote worth watching: Sports Illustrated reported this week that the Vikings have good reason to manage Jones's snap count in the opener, citing durability concerns. Minnesota's backfield usage will be something to monitor closely as the season unfolds.

From a betting perspective, CBS Sports flagged Jones as one of four player props worth targeting before kickoff, putting him in elite company alongside Jefferson as a Week 1 focus for the Vikings offense. That kind of market attention reflects real expectation for production — even if the snap count is managed.

The Rest of the Miners

Jones isn't the only UTEP alumnus in a camp or on a Week 1 roster. Several former Miners are distributed across the league heading into the new season:

• Will Hernandez (Cardinals, G) and Elijah Klein (Lions, G) both represent UTEP's quietly strong run of offensive linemen in the NFL.
• Tyrice Knight (Seahawks, LB) is one to watch as Seattle's defense takes shape.
• Nik Needham (Jets, FS), Roy Robertson-Harris (Giants, DT), Eric Tomlinson (Chargers, TE), Andrew Meyer (Dolphins, C), and Zuri Henry (Patriots, OT) round out a roster of active Miners spread across both conferences.

No single week will define a season, but the Jones captaincy sets a high-water mark for UTEP's NFL footprint before a single regular-season snap has been played. El Paso's most prominent professional export is starting fast — in the ways that matter beyond the stat sheet.