Vikings RB Aaron Jones dominated backfield work in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers, but he didn't do anything dominant with those opportunities. Jones carried 17 times for 58 yards (3.4 per rush) and caught five balls for 34 yards (6.8 per catch). Jones handled 81% of Minnesota's RB carries and all of their RB targets. His 6 ranked second on the team.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (knee) is not listed on the final injury report. There was some concern about his availability for this one early in the week, but he progressed to a full practice on Friday. Jones should control backfield work again vs. the Buccaneers after carrying 23 times last week, although the knee issues adds some risk.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (knee) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It looks like he'll try to gut through his knee injury this weekend for a Minnesota backfield that could really use him. Jones got workhorse usage last week, but it's tough to envision the same workload vs. the Buccaneers this Sunday. We'll update Jones' status again tomorrow and keep an eye on him through the weekend.
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that RB Aaron Jones won't practice on Wednesday and is uncertain for this weekend's game vs. the Buccaneers. Jones told the media that he injured his knee in the Week 2 win over the Bears and finished the game with a brace on that knee. We'll keep a close eye on his status over the next few days. With RB Jordan Mason on IR, Jones' absence would leave Minnesota's backfield to DeeJay Dallas and Demond Claiborne. Dallas out-snapped Claiborne 8 to 2 against Chicago. Six of Dallas' snaps came on passing plays, while both of Claiborn's snaps were pass routes. Dallas finished with 2 carries and 1 catch; Claiborne 0 carries and 1 catch. Neither guy is an exciting waiver add.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones handled a workhorse rushing role with Jordan Mason sidelined, turning 23 carries into 105 yards. Jones also led the backfield with a 46% route rate, although he failed to draw a target on Carson Wentz’s 20 pass attempts.
The Vikings placed RB Jordan Mason on IR with a thumb injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. This one comes out of nowhere. Mason finished the Week 1 win over the Packers, and there was no report of an injury afterward. He's now out for at least the next four games. We'll see about his availability beyond that.
Update: HC Kevin O'Connell said Mason had surgery to fix a "small fracture" in his thumb and is expected back after 4 weeks.
Vikings RBs Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones both scored a TD against the Packers in Week 1. Mason rushed 15 times for 59 yards while Jones ran 12 times for 40 yards. Neither caught a pass, though Jones had 1 target. Both were utilized near the goal line, leading to the scores.
The Vikings retooled their run game this offseason, hiring OL coach Frank Smith to lead the charge. The biggest change to the scheme will be more outside zone runs, as outlined in a recent article from The Athletic's Alec Lewis. That shift looks like excellent news for RB Jordan Mason.
Purple Insider's Matthew Coller believes RB Jordan Mason will be the Vikings' "bell cow" this season and run for 1,010 yards. It's just a prediction, but Coller is a respected reporter who's been covering the Vikings since 2016. It's not tough to imagine Mason surpassing RB Aaron Jones on the depth chart considering where both guys are in their careers.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Claiborne spent three years leading the Wake Forest backfield, stacking good production despite a middling offense. That included 1,956 rushing yards, 21 TDs, and 51 receptions over his final two years. He even squeezed out a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2025 after suffering a rib injury in the opener. Claiborne brings legit juice. His 42.5% breakaway rate, per Pro Football Focus, underscores how often he delivered runs of 15+ yards. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Claiborne ranked sixth in 2025 rushing market share (48.1%), and 14th in yards after contact per attempt (3.04). He ranked 10th in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.21) and 17th in receiving yards per route run (0.66). He is currently 22 years old.
The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a restructured contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Jones will make $5.6 million this season, including $5 million guaranteed. Schefter reported on March 1 that Minnesota was planning to release Jones, but he'll now be back for his third season with the team.
The Vikings will release RB Aaron Jones prior to the start of the new league year, barring a trade, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The move will save Minnesota $7.75 million against the cap.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Packers. RB Jordan Mason (ankle) is off the final injury report after practicing all week. He should control backfield work against a Green Bay defense that’s expected to rest starters. The Vikings are 8.5-point favorites in this one.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hip) did not practice on Wednesday. He played through an ankle issue last week, but this hip is new. We'll see if the 31-year-old suits up for Sunday's finale vs. the Packers. RB Jordan Mason (ankle) got in a limited practice on Wednesday, giving him a chance to make it back for this weekend. If both Jones and Mason miss, RB Ty Chandler would be the favorite for lead duties.
Vikings RB Jordan Mason (ankle) is out for Thursday's game vs. the Lions. RB Aaron Jones (ankle) was limited in practice all week but is not listed on the final injury report. He probably won't be at 100% but figures to serve as Minnesota's clear lead back on Christmas. Jones lands 20th in the Week 17 RB rankings.
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