The Vikings’ quarterback situation may be drawing the loudest conversation, but the backfield is shaping up to be its own messy little puzzle.
Aaron Jones still sits atop the depth chart, though his place on the roster comes with a catch. The veteran accepted a hefty pay cut to remain with Minnesota this season, and without that reduction, he likely would not be on the team for the 2026 NFL season. Behind him, Jordan Mason remains positioned as the primary backup, and that role fits the way last season played out: Mason logged 47 more offensive snaps than Jones and is expected to handle most of the work again this year.
That leaves the real battle lower on the roster, where Minnesota is trying to sort out who belongs behind its top two backs heading into the second week of the NFL preseason. Zavier Scott, a returning piece from last season, is fighting rookie Demond Claiborne for the third spot, while Jermar Jefferson is trying to do enough to stick around on the roster or land on the practice squad.
Scott brings some experience to the fight. He played 105 offensive snaps for the Vikings last season and added 149 more on special teams. The 27-year-old undrafted free agent of the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 ran 32 times for 114 yards and a touchdown last year, finishing at 3.6 yards per carry.
Claiborne, meanwhile, has made an early impression. Minnesota took the rookie in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and his speed and determination have stood out at training camp.
That effort earned him a long look in the Vikings’ first preseason game, where he led the backfield with 12 carries for 34 yards. He’s also getting opportunities as a kick returner, which only boosts his case.
At this point, he looks like the most eye-opening offensive player in camp for Minnesota.
Jefferson has been quieter than Claiborne and less dependable than Scott, but he still got into the first preseason game against the Giants and was handed two rushing attempts as Minnesota worked to finish the job.
If the Vikings carry four running backs on the 53-man roster, Jefferson appears to be the most likely odd man out. The practice squad remains a possible landing spot if Minnesota wants to keep him in the system. But if the team trims the room to three halfbacks, the decision gets a lot trickier: stick with the familiarity of Scott or bet on the upside of Claiborne.
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The Vikings 2022 draft has become one of those decisions that refuses to fade, mostly because the class left so little behind in Minnesota. Under then-general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team made 10 selections, and none are still on the roster now, a stark outcome for a class that was supposed to help reset the franchises future.
The debate only gets sharper because of what happened with the first pick the Vikings moved away from. Minnesota traded down from No. 12 to No. 32 and took safety Lewis Cine, while Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton went soon after and has already turned into a multiple-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Kevin OConnell has admitted there is regret around not ending up with Hamilton, and every reminder of that choice keeps reopening one of the more painful what-if questions from the teams recent history. [Read more 🡒]
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J.J. McCarthy sits near the center of it all, because his performance has to take a step forward if he wants to firm up the QB2 conversation. Jacob Thomas also bears watching after an impressive Week 1 showing, and Caleb Banks remains an intriguing project after a rough preseason debut while he continues working back from injury. For a team still shaping its depth chart, this is the kind of game where a few snaps can carry a lot of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Backup QB Battle Says Plenty About J.J. McCarthy Right Now
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OConnell has made clear the Vikings are not rushing the decision, saying the staff will keep evaluating the position over the next few weeks before making a final call. For McCarthy, that means every rep matters a little more right now, because the backup conversation is also a window into how the team sees his readiness and where he stands in the long-term plan behind Murray. [Read more 🡒]