The Minnesota Vikings have spent the first two weeks leaning on their ground game, and that early progress is already under pressure in a big way.
Ahead of Sunday’s Week 3 trip to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota’s backfield is suddenly thin. Jordan Mason is on injured reserve after breaking his thumb in the season-opening win over the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Jones, who handled the load in last week’s win over the Chicago Bears, then tweaked his knee, putting his status for Tampa Bay in doubt.
That leaves DeeJay Dallas and rookie Demond Claiborne near the bottom of the depth chart, with the possibility that the Vikings may not have a reliable option available at all. After all the offseason work to reshape the running game, the lack of depth is threatening to undo the whole project if the health situation doesn’t improve soon.
The overhaul was a response to a long-running problem. Since Kevin O’Connell arrived in 2022, Minnesota ranks 25th in the NFL at 4.1 yards per carry and 29th in rushing attempts, a clear sign the offense wasn’t getting enough out of the run game to lean on it consistently.
So the Vikings made changes. Offensive line coach Chris Kuper moved on, and Keith Carter brought in a more physical approach. The scheme also got a fresh voice with assistant head coach Frank Smith, whose rushing offenses averaged 4.5 yards per carry, sixth in the league, over his four seasons running the Dolphins’ offense in Miami.
At least for now, the early returns have been encouraging. Minnesota ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries against the Packers, then followed that up with 119 yards on 28 attempts against the Bears.
There’s even a chance the ground game could get another boost if Kyler Murray returns from a concussion, which could add a different wrinkle to the offense. But the bigger issue is the one hanging over the backfield: talent was always the concern.
Mason has generally held up well during his career, and the Vikings’ wide zone scheme fits what he already knows from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Still, he looks more like a steady hand than a home-run threat.
Jones brings more juice, but he’s also 32. He carried the ball 23 times against Chicago and was at Thursday’s practice, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, but he didn’t get through that game cleanly. Even if Minnesota asks him to carry the RB1 load on Sunday, there’s no guarantee he can absorb a heavy workload for long.
Dallas is more of a special teams piece, which makes Claiborne the obvious name to watch. The Vikings have talked up his burst - Jones compared it to Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs - but the rookie was inactive in Week 1 and had only one catch for two yards against the Bears.
Minnesota also has Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson on the practice squad, though neither looks like a candidate to take on a major share of the carries.
There is at least one bit of relief on the horizon: Mason is not expected to stay on IR beyond the minimum four games, which points to a possible return for a Week 7 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. Even then, Jones could be worn down by the time Mason comes back, and Claiborne may still be the one asked to handle a bigger role.
That’s where the long-term concern starts to creep in. Claiborne impressed in camp, but he was a sixth-round pick who has had issues with ball security and pass protection. If he ends up in the same category as former running back Ty Chandler, the Vikings may have to attack the position more aggressively next offseason, whether that means free agency or using a pick in April’s draft.
For Minnesota, the math is simple: stay upright now, and find more talent later. Otherwise, the question hanging over this run-game makeover will only get louder.
In Other News...
Vikings Have A Receiver Problem Their 2-0 Start Can't Hide
The Vikings are 2-0, but the early offense has already made one thing clear: everything still runs through Justin Jefferson. Minnesota has leaned heavily on its star receiver while the rest of the wideout room has struggled to keep pace, leaving the passing game far more top-heavy than the record suggests. After two games, the secondary receivers have combined for only two catches for 27 yards, a thin return for a group the team needs to be more dependable.
Jordan Addison, the No. 2 option, has not matched the production he showed in previous seasons, and the rest of the depth chart has yet to offer much help. Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton and Myles Price have all been quiet, and the Vikings have had to navigate quarterback changes and injuries along the way. The next stretch against Tampa Bay and Miami could offer a chance to straighten things out, but for now the early wins have not masked a receiving problem that still needs solving. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Quarterback Uncertainty Is Fueling A Much Bigger Possibility
Jim Harbaugh was already singing J.J. McCarthys praises during the 2024 draft, and that connection matters now more than ever as the Vikings work through quarterback uncertainty. McCarthy missed his rookie season because of injury, and his early showings in Minnesota have been uneven, leaving the team with more questions than answers at the most important position in the sport.
Harbaughs own situation in Los Angeles only adds another layer to the conversation. Justin Herbert has not looked like the same player under him, and the Chargers are staring at a difficult stretch of schedule that could sharpen the pressure on everyone involved. For Vikings fans, the larger possibility is hard to ignore: if McCarthy does not settle the position, the ripple effects could reach well beyond Minnesotas depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Get A Crucial Boost While Another Week 3 Problem Emerges
Aaron Jones is expected to be available Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving the Vikings a needed boost as they try to keep their offense on track in Week 3. Minnesotas final injury report also clarified the special teams picture, with Brett Thorson ruled out and veteran Johnny Hekker likely handling punting duties, while center Nick Samac will miss the game as well.
The Vikings are still walking into a matchup with some moving parts on both sidelines. Tampa Bay will be without rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter, while Baker Mayfield was a full participant in practice after dealing with an illness, leaving Minnesota to sort through its own health questions while preparing for a division test that could hinge on stability in the kicking game and protection up front. [Read more 🡒]