The Minnesota Vikings took a significant step toward restoring their backfield on Monday when they designated running back Jordan Mason to return from injured reserve, the team announced.
The move opens a 21-day practice window for the 27-year-old, with the expectation that he will begin working on the field as soon as Wednesday and could be activated in time for the team’s Week 7 home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Mason suffered a small fracture in his thumb during Minnesota’s season-opening victory over the Green Bay Packers.
He underwent a minor procedure shortly afterward and was placed on injured reserve, which required him to miss a minimum of four games.
Because the Vikings were on a bye in Week 6, the earliest he could realistically return was the following Sunday. Designating him for return now aligns with the timeline coaches and medical staff had projected since mid-September.
In that lone appearance, Mason handled the bulk of the early-down work, rushing 15 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. His absence left veteran Aaron Jones to shoulder a heavier load while the team navigated the first month of the season.
Minnesota has averaged 116 rushing yards per game, ranking 12th in the league, but efficiency has been more modest at 3.9 yards per carry.
Adding Mason’s physical, between-the-tackles style is expected to lighten Jones’s workload and give the offense a more balanced approach coming out of the bye.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has made clear that Mason remains central to the team’s offensive vision.
Earlier this month he noted that maximizing the unit’s potential would depend in part on getting Mason back into the mix, describing the back as a key piece of what the Vikings hope to become as the season progresses.
Mason’s path to Minnesota began as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. After three seasons on the 49ers’ roster, he was traded to the Vikings and signed a two-year deal.
In his first season with the team, he split carries with Jones and produced 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Now, after five weeks away from game action, the Vikings are preparing to reintegrate him and see whether the same complementary pairing can regain its rhythm against a Colts defense that will present a fresh test.
While activation is not guaranteed for Sunday, the designation and practice plans signal that Minnesota expects Mason to be available sooner rather than later.
If he clears the remaining medical hurdles, the Vikings’ ground game and overall offensive options should look closer to the version the coaching staff envisioned at the start of the year.
