A bit of quiet IR news, as the Minnesota Vikings placed running back Jordan Mason on IR. Mason suffered a hand injury during the Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. He suffered a small fracture in his thumb that has already been fixed, per coach Kevin O’Connell. He’ll be out for the next four games but should return in Week 6.
That means veteran Aaron Jones looks to be the lone starter in the Vikings’ backfield. Jones produced 63 all-purpose yards in a game in 2025 that Mason missed. We should also expect rookie running back Demond Claiborne to see some action in the short term, along with newly added DeeJay Dallas, with Mason heading to IR. Jones currently ranks as RB28 in PlayerProfiler’s Weekly Rankings and should see the bulk of the work against the Chicago Bears.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is listed as the...
The Minnesota Vikings have running back Aaron Jones ...
The Minnesota Vikings are re-signing running back Aaron ...
Sixth-round rookie Demond Claiborne is generating early summer buzz in Minnesota and has the potential to make an impact in Year 1. Claiborne enters a shallow, fragile backfield behind an aging, 31-year-old Aaron Jones and a one-dimensional grinder Jordan Mason.
Armed with an above-average College Target Share and a 4.37-second 40-yard dash time, Claiborne possesses the exact athletic profile required to earn touches, and his ceiling becomes uncapped if and when Jones goes down with an injury. Claiborne is currently a smash in the third round of dynasty rookie drafts.
The Minnesota Vikings just added some youth to their backfield at No. 198 by drafting Demond Claiborne, an athlete who showed out at the NFL Combine with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash (93rd-percentile) and a massive 106.8 Speed Score. Claiborne posted a dominant 1,049-yard breakout season and chipped in on special teams with a 26.3 yards per kick return average, proving he possesses the elite “home run” gear and the 91st-percentile burst to erase pursuit angles in Kevin O’Connell’s zone-heavy scheme.
In dynasty formats, Claiborne landed in a spot where he can serve as an elite handcuff, with little upside unless there is an injury to incumbent Aaron Jones.
Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings sat out of practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday
Just days removed from saying that he will “be back out there” for Week 10 against the Ravens, veteran running back Aaron Jones sat out of Wednesday’s Vikings practice.
Jones provided some much-needed offense against the Detroit Lions in Week 9, accumulating 98 yards from scrimmage before departing early in the third quarter. Initially ruled a “shoulder injury,” it was determined to be an AC joint sprain. While Jones tried to lay to rest the notion of missing the home game against Baltimore, it’s worth noting that his comments came right after the game. Presumably, soreness crept in later, causing him to miss the team’s first full practice on Wednesday. Jones will need to practice in full by Friday to avoid an injury designation.
Fantasy lowdown: Jones is listed as questionable for the game, and the possibility of him being ready has been met with skepticism. If he can go, managers should not hesitate to fire him up against the Ravens’ 13th-ranked rush defense (fourth in running back touchdowns allowed). Likewise, if Jones misses the game, Jordan Mason is a must-start as an RB2 with upside as long as the game doesn’t get out of hand.
Author: Samwise (@BuyAndSellYou)
The Minnesota Vikings have placed Aaron Jones on the Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. Jones was injured in the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons and will now be out until at least Week 7.
This news means Jordan Mason will be the unquestioned starter for the Vikings in Jones’ absence. Mason has been the leading rusher for the Vikings through two weeks with 24 carries totalling 98 yards. With Jones landing on the Injured Reserve, the team has signed Cam Akers to the practice squad, and he could be elevated to the 53-man roster for the game against the Bengals. The Vikings’ offense has quickly become depleted with quarterback J.J. McCarthy nursing a high ankle sprain, Jordan Addison still serving his three-game suspension, and a banged-up offensive line.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
Weeks ago, Minnesota acquired Mason and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the San Francisco 49ers for a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Since then, fans and analysts alike have attempted to project what kind of workload Mason will receive in the upcoming season. O’Connell’s comments from the NFL’s 2025 League Meetings confirmed what some assumed.
“I do think Jordan’s gonna bring something to the table in those short-yardage situations, those goal-line situations, goal-to-go, where we’ve really left a lot to be desired as a football team,” O’Connell said.
Most teams in the modern NFL opt to rotate through multiple running backs during games, and the Vikings are no different. Mason’s skillset will (ideally) complement what veteran tailback Aaron Jones brings to the table as they share opportunities. Jones made a name for himself as an explosive runner and reliable receiver in his seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers, continuing to add to his resume last year with the Minnesota Vikings. He remains an effective player, but now that Jones is in his 30s, he’s no longer viewed as a workhorse option. Instead, and as his head coach alluded to, Minnesota hopes to preserve Jones in the final years of his career by lightening his workload. We can safely assume he’ll continue to be their featured back in passing situations, but Mason will get plenty of early down and short yardage work.
Mason set career-highs across the board last season in relief of Christian McCaffrey, totaling 880 yards from scrimmage while averaging 5.4 yards per touch. Mason’s durability issues loom, but when active he’s proven to be an efficient runner. He signed a new contract with the Vikings post-trade and now has two seasons to prove his worth to his new team.
Author: Trey Kroll (@TreyK_FB)
