Aaron Jones may be getting some much-needed help soon.
The Minnesota Vikings are rolling through the first stretch of the season at 5-0, and their latest injury news gives them another boost. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported this week that Minnesota is aiming to have Jordan Mason back after the bye.
“Minnesota hopes to get Jordan Mason (injured reserve, thumb) back in Week 7, post-bye,” Fowler wrote on Wednesday.
Mason landed on injured reserve in September after suffering a thumb injury that required surgery. He’s now nearing full health, putting him in line to rejoin the lineup soon if all goes well.
For now, the Vikings have leaned heavily on Aaron Jones as their lead back. DeeJay Dallas has stepped in at times, but Jones has carried most of the workload while Mason has been sidelined.
Mason’s return could give Minnesota’s run game another layer. He was productive in Week 1, piling up 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. That didn’t match his career rate of 5.0 yards per carry, but it still gave the Vikings steady production.
It should also take some pressure off Jones. The 31-year-old veteran stands to benefit from having another back share the load, which would help keep him fresher over the long haul.
The only question now is how quickly Minnesota puts Mason back to work once he’s cleared. The thumb issue is the hurdle, not his legs, so the Vikings could have a useful weapon back in short order.
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