Overview
- Minnesota formally designated running back Jordan Mason to return from injured reserve, starting the NFL’s 21-day window for him to resume practice and be activated to the 53-man roster.
- The club expects Mason to reach the practice field within days and to be activated quickly, though his availability for the next game is not yet guaranteed.
- Aaron Jones has carried the bulk of the Vikings’ rushing work this season, and Mason’s return is intended to restore a two-back rotation and reduce Jones’s snap and carry load.
- Backups Demond Claiborne and DeeJay Dallas have seen minimal touches this year, and Minnesota may still explore external running-back upgrades before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
- The short-term urgency reflects the team’s rushing profile: roughly middle of the league in yards per game but below average in yards per carry, and the Vikings could also see returns soon from Christian Darrisaw and T.J. Hockenson.