Jordan Mason is back in the mix for Minnesota, and that changes the shape of the Vikings’ backfield heading into Sunday’s game against the Colts.
After four weeks on injured reserve because of a thumb issue, Mason is healthy again and ready to play. He still carries a questionable designation, but that’s more paperwork than concern at this point since he technically still needs to be activated off injured reserve. Unless there’s been some serious thumb trouble behind the scenes, he should be available without much limitation.
That puts the Vikings in a familiar spot with Aaron Jones, who is still working through a sprained MCL. The question now is how Minnesota divides the work between its top two backs, especially with Mason returning after a month away and Jones still managing a knee injury.
The only time the two have played together this season came in Week 1, when the workload was close to split right down the middle. Mason handled 15 carries, while Jones got 12.
That was the intended setup for Minnesota, and Sunday could look similar. Still, Mason’s conditioning after the layoff and Jones’s knee response could shift the balance in either direction.
The most likely answer is that both are healthy enough to keep rolling.
That suggests Mason won’t be on a snap count, and it also suggests the Vikings won’t completely back off Jones even after leaning on him heavily over the past month. Mason averaged 3.9 yards per carry against Green Bay in the opener, but there’s a softer landing spot here: Indianapolis ranks 22nd in the NFL against the run. That gives Mason a real chance to regain some traction after sitting out for a month.
DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne haven’t given Minnesota dependable production, so both Mason and Jones should still see meaningful work. Mason looks like the early-down option, while Jones should continue to factor more on third downs because of his receiving ability.
Mason’s return also creates a roster crunch. The Vikings are now carrying four running backs, and that doesn’t seem like a setup general manager Nolan Teasley wants to keep for long, especially with the NFL trade deadline coming Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Minnesota could still try to add help elsewhere, whether that’s along the offensive line, in the secondary or even back in the backfield. If that happens, one of the current reserves may be the one moved out.
Dallas has value on special teams, which could leave rookie sixth-round pick Claiborne as the odd man out. He has only six carries for 13 yards this season, and a late-round rookie with no real production is the kind of player who can be exposed to waivers and stashed on the practice squad. That’s a situation worth watching.
What happens against the Colts may help sort out the next few weeks. If Mason looks rusty or Jones’s knee worsens, the Vikings could be looking at another round of changes before long.
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Justin Herbert Is Suddenly At Center Of A Chargers Debate
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For the Vikings, any Herbert talk is less about immediate need than about the kind of rare opening that can reshape a contender in a hurry. Nothing official has been confirmed, and Los Angeles has given no clear answer on where it stands, but the uncertainty alone is enough to keep Minnesota in the conversation as long as Herbert's status remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]