The Vikings are giving themselves a little extra protection behind Aaron Jones.
Minnesota elevated DeeJay Dallas from the practice squad Saturday, a move that points to the team wanting another veteran option on hand as Jones heads into Sunday’s NFC North game against Detroit with his knee still something to watch. Jones does not carry an injury designation, but the extra elevation suggests the Vikings are not eager to lean on him too heavily.
Jones aggravated the knee in Minnesota’s Week 7 win over Indianapolis, and Jordan Mason took on the bigger rushing load after returning from injured reserve. Jones finished that game with eight carries for 26 yards before exiting.
Since then, the outlook has trended in the right direction. Jones missed practice Wednesday, was limited Thursday and then practiced fully Friday. The 10-year veteran appears set to play, but Minnesota’s move for Dallas leaves the door open for a lighter workload or a possible in-game issue.
Dallas brings plenty of NFL mileage of his own. Seattle picked him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons with the Seahawks before moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2024. He split 2025 between the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars before joining Minnesota this season.
Across six NFL seasons and 90 games, Dallas has 127 carries for 548 yards and four touchdowns. He also has 68 catches for 441 yards and two receiving scores. On special teams, he has returned 89 kickoffs for 2,254 yards and a touchdown, along with 39 punts for 367 yards.
The Vikings’ move also comes with a little roster flexibility. Minnesota first elevated Dallas for Week 1, then signed him to the 53-man roster after Mason went on injured reserve.
When Mason returned in October, Dallas was released and then quickly re-signed to the practice squad. Because of that reset, this elevation counts as his second since the move, leaving Minnesota one more standard elevation before the team would need to sign him back to the 53-man roster to use him again.
At the moment, Dallas looks like insurance rather than a player expected to carve out a major offensive role. O'Connell has recently praised him for his pass protection and special teams work, and that’s where Dallas should matter most. Mason can handle early-down work if needed, helping Minnesota keep Jones from taking on more wear than necessary in a divisional game that could get physical fast.
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