Jordan Mason is one step closer to returning to the field. The Vikings announced that they’ve designated the RB for return from injured reserve.
Mason landed on IR about a month ago with a fractured thumb. There was some optimism that he’d only be required to miss the minimum four games, and he got an additional week of recovery with Minnesota on a bye in Week 6. His status for Week 7 is uncertain, but it’s a positive sign that he’s already returning to practice.
Mason made a name for himself as one of Christian McCaffrey’s primary fill-ins with the 49ers. The former UDFA got an extended look in 2024, when he finished with 880 yards from scrimmage. He was traded to the Vikings during the 2025 offseason and served in a timeshare with Aaron Jones. Mason finished his first year in Minnesota with 809 yards from scrimmage and a career-high six scores.
With his teammate out of the lineup, Jones has more than picked up the slack. The veteran RB is averaging a career-high 82 rushing yards per game, and he’s totaled 482 yards from scrimmage and a pair of TDs through five games. With the 2026 campaign representing Jones’ age-32 season, the Vikings will surely revert back to a timeshare arrangement once Mason is activated.
Mason’s return will also likely force another RB off the roster. That will presumably be DeeJay Dallas, assuming the Vikings want to hang on to sixth-round RB Demond Claiborne. However, it’s worth noting that the veteran has outsnapped the rookie (40 to 18) through the early portion of the season.
