Vikings Make Surprising Jordan Mason Decision

From the sound of it, head coach Kevin O’Connell and Mason expect his absence to be fairly minimal, which means he can be back as early as Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. Mason would miss four weeks plus the team’s Week 6 bye.

The 27-year-old led the Vikings in rushing on Sunday, carrying the ball 15 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. It was nearly an even split between Mason and Aaron Jones, who out-snapped Mason 30-29 during the victory. Jones is now set up to be the lead back for the next few weeks, with former Seattle Seahawks back Deejay Dallas and rookie Demond Claiborne filling out the committee.

Claiborne was drafted out of Wake Forest in the sixth round of this year’s NFL Draft. He was inactive in Week 1, but should be active over the next few weeks for his NFL debut. Dallas is a veteran back who has been used as a pass-catcher over the years. For as long as Mason is out, Jones should handle the bulk of the running back work, as long as he himself can stay healthy.

Mason appeared in 16 games for the Vikings in 2025, amassing 809 yards from scrimmage with six total touchdowns. Before last year, he played the first three seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.

In Week 2, the Vikings will visit their division rival and upstart Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.