Jordan Mason injury update provides more bad news for Vikings

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Jordan Mason injury update provides more bad news for Vikings

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 16, 2026 4:50 PM ET

The early injury bug has chomped the Minnesota Vikings.

Starting quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a concussion in the first quarter of a 39-22 Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers. Despite being listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday, Minnesota remains unsure whether he'll play in a Week 2 road game against the 1-0 Chicago Bears (Fox, 1 p.m. ET). Amid the questions about Murray's status, the Vikings have received even more bad injury news.

Vikings will be without RB Jordan Mason for a significant period of time

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Wednesday that they placed Mason (fractured right thumb) on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games. It's unclear when he suffered the injury, but he began feeling soreness in his thumb on Monday before being evaluated.

The Vikings signed RB DeeJay Dallas to the 53-man roster and RB Jerome Ford to the practice squad in corresponding moves. Expect neither to be as big a contributor as Mason, who rushed for a team-leading 59 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries in Week 1. Dallas ran for 21 yards on three carries in six games with the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. Ford, meanwhile, had 73 rushing yards on 24 carries in 13 games with the Cleveland Browns.

Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announces the #Vikings have placed RB Jordan Mason (thumb) on IR and signed RB DeeJay Dallas to the 53-man roster.

RB Jerome Ford has also been signed to the practice squad. pic.twitter.com/3ixNEuxzGt
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 16, 2026

RB Aaron Jones Sr., who ran for just 40 yards and scored one TD on 12 carries in Week 1, needs to start producing better numbers. Mason's absence will clearly increase the one-time Pro Bowler's workload.

Murray, who ranks 14th all-time among QBs in rushing yards (3,195), can certainly factor into the run game, but the Vikings could advise him to take off less to avoid another concussion.

If backup QB Carson Wentz starts in Week 2, that will further raise concerns about Minnesota's ground attack. The Vikings must control the clock to help slow Chicago's potent offense, which scored the most points (59) in Week 1. Mason's injury could hamper the Vikings' ability to pound the rock.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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