The Minnesota Vikings made a quiet but purposeful adjustment to their running back group this week, signing former Oregon State standout Jermar Jefferson while releasing Jordan Mims.
The move comes as the team continues to evaluate its depth behind established veteran Aaron Jones and as training camp progresses toward the preseason.
Jefferson arrives with a strong college résumé that once made him one of the more productive backs in the Pac-12. Over 27 games at Oregon State between 2018 and 2020, he piled up nearly 3,000 rushing yards and scored 27 touchdowns while also adding a pair of receiving scores.
His freshman season was particularly eye-catching, as he rushed for 1,380 yards and 12 touchdowns on 239 carries. That earned him Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year honors.
In a shortened 2020 campaign, he remained highly effective, averaging more than 140 yards per game and collecting additional conference recognition, including Co-Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press.
After leaving college, Jefferson’s professional path has been less linear. He most recently spent time with the San Francisco 49ers before being waived in late May.
The Vikings brought him in for a workout earlier this week and quickly decided to add him to the roster. In exchange, they parted ways with Mims, who had signed a one-year deal only a few weeks earlier but missed portions of camp with an undisclosed issue.
For Minnesota the addition is low-risk. Jones remains the clear lead back, and Jordan Mason provides a reliable complement. Rookie Demond Claiborne has shown flashes in practice, yet the coaching staff clearly values extra bodies as it sorts out the final depth chart.
Jefferson gives them another experienced option who can be evaluated in live action beginning this weekend against the New York Giants.
Whether Jefferson sticks beyond the preseason remains to be seen. Many similar signings function as short-term insurance while younger players develop.
Still, the Vikings have shown a willingness to leave no stone unturned in building roster depth.
Jefferson now has a chance to prove he belongs, and the organization has another proven college producer on hand as it prepares for the upcoming season.
