Mason on IR ~ Signed DeeJay Dallas to Roster

Sigh. Of course. No Murray, no Jordan.....Week 2 is looking like a peach. 🙄 Obviously something was up with all the RBs coming in for tryouts.

StickierBuns wrote:

Sigh. Of course. No Murray, no Jordan.....Week 2 is looking like a peach. 🙄

I have a feeling Murry will play

Canthony wrote:

I have a feeling Murry will play

If he can.....and I think he CAN....he should IMO. But I think they're going to take a week of precaution. Dallas is built like Mason and he's a vet, so he'll probably be ok. Same type of RB.

#Vikings RB Jordan Mason has a small fracture in his thumb and it has been fixed, per coach Kevin O’Connell. He’s on short-term IR but should be back quickly.

The team also added DeeJay Dallas to the roster. pic.twitter.com/8oMdtR9fEY

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2026

Kevin O’Connell makes clear the Vikings haven’t ruled out Kyler Murray for Sunday’s game in Chicago. Likely would need to be medically cleared by Friday for him to play.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 16, 2026

He should be ruled out. Its beyond stupid to rush him out. He is 99% sure to take a hit. Let him heal, give it some time, I have seen countless times where a player is rushed back goes back out and now gets his 2nd concussion.

KOC says Jordan Mason is going on short term IR with a thumb fracture. Deejay Dallas goes to the active roster. Expects Mason to be back after four weeks pic.twitter.com/xbCe4VtYRb

— Matthew Coller (@MatthewColler) September 16, 2026

Kmerry82 wrote:

He should be ruled out. Its beyond stupid to rush him out. He is 99% sure to take a hit. Let him heal, give it some time, I have seem countless times where a player is rushed back goes back out and now gets his 2nd concussion.

I think if he passes protocol he should play, but I'm reading he's "limited" in practice and if he's not participating in the install or getting 1st team reps against the scout defense in practice, then he might be better off sitting one more week.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think if he passes protocol he should play, but I'm reading he's "limited" in practice and if he's not participating in the install or getting 1st team reps against the scout defense in practice, then he might be better off sitting one more week.

limited is much different than the normal concussion protocol return. That means he is cleared for activity which most don't get to until friday from what I recall.

Damn, that blows. Guessing Claiborne will be active this time, and likely get carries before DJD.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think if he passes protocol he should play, but I'm reading he's "limited" in practice and if he's not participating in the install or getting 1st team reps against the scout defense in practice, then he might be better off sitting one more week.

Obviously yes doctors have the ultimate say. but go look at that hit. He was knocked out, Had involuntary movement of his muscles after and by all accounts had a significant brain injury. Whether looking at the short term or long term, timelines differ based on symptoms. In either case he is best on track for a return not this week but next week. He is just now starting to do light training back with zero physical hits. I'm not a doctor but have been around enough that say 2-3 weeks is the best case scenario if symptoms free to allow the injury to heal, also the body to get back and then to slowly bring back physical contact. The risk of a 2nd concussion increases just by having 1 concussion, but it also increases exponentially if the previous injury is not fully healed. Between CTE, increased brain diseases like Favre's Parkinson diagnosis, early onset dementia why would anyone consider pushing this for a game. Having watched Tyler Sash play from High School, through college at Iowa to playing for the Giants and later committing suicide due to severe CTE this isn't a risk worth taking. Sunday is 1 game. He has the rest of his career and the rest of his life. Give him the time to heal. Rushing situations like this and causing severe long term consequences is the last thing anyone wants.

https://www.kcci.com/article/kcci-impact-concussions-cte-and-the-fight-to-save-football-1503694418/12097665

“Zac should have never continued to play because his brain must have been so traumatized; if he stopped, he would have been alive today because his brain would have healed,” Brenda said. She added that America is on the "verge of an epidemic" when it comes to CTE.

In a recent study of 177 deceased former football players, CTE was found in nearly 90 percent of brains studied, including 110 of 111 brains from former NFL players, 48 of 53 college players, nine of 14 semiprofessional players, seven of eight Canadian Football League players and three of 14 high school players.

What am I missing? Dallas played against the Packers on Sunday, how is this news? Was he cut in between then and now?

Kmerry82 wrote:

Obviously yes doctors have the ultimate say. but go look at that hit. He was knocked out, Had involuntary movement of his muscles after and by all accounts had a significant brain injury. Whether looking at the short term or long term, timelines differ based on symptoms. In either case he is best on track for a return not this week but next week. He is just now starting to do light training back with zero physical hits. I'm not a doctor but have been around enough that say 2-3 weeks is the best case scenario if symptoms free to allow the injury to heal, also the body to get back and then to slowly bring back physical contact. The risk of a 2nd concussion increases just by having 1 concussion, but it also increases exponentially if the previous injury is not fully healed. Between CTE, increased brain diseases like Favre's Parkinson diagnosis, early onset dementia why would anyone consider pushing this for a game. Having watched Tyler Sash play from High School, through college at Iowa to playing for the Giants and later committing suicide due to severe CTE this isn't a risk worth taking. Sunday is 1 game. He has the rest of his career and the rest of his life. Give him the time to heal. Rushing situations like this and causing severe long term consequences is the last thing anyone wants.

I am a doctor and could not agree more with this post. Being "cleared" to return to play does not indicate the long term effects

as pointed out in this post. Limited activity can may be stationary bike, some throws, etc. Regardless if Murray does not have a history

of concussions does not mean he's not susceptible to another. We're not dealing with a orthopedic issue that can fully heal. The brain

is tricky and needs time.

ncvike wrote:

I am a doctor and could not agree more with this post. Being "cleared" to return to play does not indicate the long term effects
as pointed out in this post. Limited activity can may be stationary bike, some throws, etc. Regardless if Murray does not have a history
of concussions does not mean he's not susceptible to another. We're not dealing with a orthopedic issue that can fully heal. The brain
is tricky and needs time.

yea... well I slept in my own bed last night.... and I completely agree. when they say that we know more about the moon than we do about the floor of the ocean, I think we know more about the floor of the ocean than we do about the human brain. ultimately its up to people with way more education on the matter, but I still dont know that we can fully understand the micro affects of when we are just getting our hands around the macro issues of repeated brain trauma. I know as a kid I took it way differently than I do now... hell as a parent 15 years ago I dont think I took it serious enough. We have one scary piece of biology floating around in our heads.

Can we sign Zavier Scott off the Bears PS, would be good timing and he can step in a play.

Also a doctor and risk of another concussion is substantially higher after the initial injury. Most will recover in a few days or weeks and concussion is defined as mild traumatic brain injury. We've seen repeat concusions in Tua and Ryan Kelly had three last year. When it comes to the brain, even mild injury can be consequential.

KOC likes to play the 'guess which QB is starting' game, although it never seems to work. Hopefully that is all he is doing this time.

JimmyinSD wrote:

What am I missing? Dallas played against the Packers on Sunday, how is this news? Was he cut in between then and now?

@JimmyinSD I think its because he was officially put back on the practice squad after the game.

BTW on this topic both DJ Dallas and this Ford kid can play. I like the physicality and run/receive skillsets of both. I expect them to get more snaps than the rookie.

Bullazin wrote:

@JimmyinSD I think its because he was officially put back on the practice squad after the game.

BTW on this topic both DJ Dallas and this Ford kid can play. I like the physicality and run/receive skillsets of both. I expect them to get more snaps than the rookie.

...and I hear Deejay has great vision on the field....

Official team photo.

Will be interesting to see how the Vikings' RB room shakes out with no Jordan Mason. Aaron Jones is the obvious starter, but who mixes in behind him?

Everything you need to know about DeeJay Dallas, Demond Claiborne, and Jerome Ford: https://t.co/xDKGv8Nssz

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 16, 2026

The Vikings’ offense received another tough injury blow on Wednesday when running back Jordan Mason was placed on short-term IR with a thumb fracture, knocking him out for at least the next four games.

Mason ran 15 times for 59 yards and a touchdown in the opener against the Packers, including a 28-yard scamper that was Minnesota’s second-longest play of the day. He had an impressive training camp and looked poised for a big second season with the Vikings, who have made it clear that they want to run the football more often in 2026.

The Vikings handed the ball off 27 times against the Packers. Kevin O’Connell, who has been one of the NFL’s more pass-heavy coaches in recent years, stuck with the run even when it wasn’t yielding great results early on — and even as the Vikings were trailing on the scoreboard. It was just one game, but it felt like a legitimate philosophical shift.

O’Connell’s commitment to the run will be tested without Mason, especially against a Bears team that has a shaky secondary and can put up points in bunches on offense. Let’s take a look at the Vikings’ current running back room, which will be led by 31-year-old veteran Aaron Jones.

Starter: Aaron Jones

Jones was part of the Vikings’ 50/50 split backfield coming into this season. He played 30 snaps against the Packers. Mason played 29. Jones turned 12 carries into 40 yards and the go-ahead three-yard touchdown run.

Naturally, Jones will now slide into a featured role as the clear-cut starter. But because he’s 31, in his tenth season, and has a bit of an injury history, the Vikings aren’t going to want to give Jones 25 touches per game in Mason’s absence.

“Aaron, as part of our lead back, 1A/1B rotation, he’s going to be heavily involved,” O’Connell said. “And at the same time, we want to keep him fresh. We ask a lot of him as it is, but (we) know we’ve got some (other) guys that can handle some carries, handle some situational snaps on third down.”

Jones averaged just 3.3 yards per carry against the Packers, but he didn’t have a lot of running room to work with. The former Green Bay standout has had some big performances in 17 career games against the Bears, with 14 touchdowns in that span and six games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

Depth option: DeeJay Dallas

Two weeks ago, after losing Zavier Scott to the Bears’ practice squad, the Vikings signed Dallas to theirs. He was a Seahawks fourth-round pick in 2020 who spent his first four NFL seasons with Seattle, where Nolan Teasley was in the front office.

Dallas, who has bounced around over the past couple years, impressed the Vikings enough to be elevated to their gameday roster this past Sunday. He played six snaps on offense (mostly on third downs) and 19 on special teams, where his emphatic block helped spring Myles Price’s momentum-shifting kick return in the third quarter.

This block by DeeJay Dallas (31) on the Myles Price kick return was so good.

Dallas joined the Vikings’ practice squad less than two weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/0dnp17zFhR

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 14, 2026

Dallas, who turned 28 on Wednesday, was signed to the Vikings’ active roster when Mason was placed on IR. He’s a lock to be active on Sunday because of his value on special teams and in pass protection. It’s possible he could see some carries as well, although he only has 22 of those over the past three years.

In his previous six seasons, Dallas has played over 700 offensive snaps and over 1,300 on special teams. He has 189 career touches for 946 yards and 6 TDs, with almost all of that production coming from 2020-22.

“I thought it was a huge move by Nolan,” O’Connell said of Dallas. “He had familiarity with the player. You could see why he was so confident in bringing him in. We were excited as coaches. … He’s a very, very smart player. The physicality that he plays with on (special) teams shows up in pass pro. And he’s got some good instincts and tools and vision as a runner. Obviously, with Jordan’s situation, he’ll probably see an increased role.”

One other thing on Dallas: His headshot on the Vikings’ official roster is unique, to say the least.

The Vikings signed RB DeeJay Dallas from the practice squad to their active roster today.

I’m not entirely sure why his official roster headshot looks like he saw a ghost in the room. pic.twitter.com/CAKJl3yYRt

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 16, 2026

It turns out there’s a backstory to that. He’s been making that face in his headshot photo since his Seahawks days, and it was inspired by a former Seattle Kraken hockey player.

Depth option: Demond Claiborne

Another player who could see time in the Vikings’ backfield is Claiborne, the rookie they drafted out of Wake Forest in the sixth round this year. He was a healthy scratch against the Packers but is a candidate to make his NFL debut now that Mason is on IR.

Claiborne has electrifying speed, which was on display at times in training camp. Back at minicamp in June, Jones said the rookie reminds him a little bit of Jahmyr Gibbs.

It would be fun to see Claiborne get an opportunity this week, but it’s unclear if the Vikings believe he’s ready. He had some issues with ball security in college, and there are lots of little details to the running back position that can take time to learn, whether it’s executing a run or picking up a blitz in pass protection.

Claiborne ran 28 times for just 73 yards in the preseason (2.6 YPC), although that was behind reserve offensive linemen. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s active this Sunday in Chicago.

“Demond is doing everything in his power to be ready to go,” O’Connell said. “You guys know how excited I am about the player. We’ll get him ready and we’ll make the best determination when Sunday comes around.”

Demond Claiborne’s 12 carries for 34 yards in his Vikings preseason debut.

How’d he look? pic.twitter.com/NRNtUE1UKs

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) August 16, 2026

Depth option: Jerome Ford

The other roster move the Vikings made at running back on Wednesday was to sign Jerome Ford to their practice squad. Ford, who worked out for Minnesota on Tuesday, is an experienced player who could perhaps slide right into a role in the Vikings’ offense this week.

Ford, 27, was a fifth-round pick by the Browns in 2022. In his second season, he took over as Cleveland’s starter following an injury to Nick Chubb, and he proceeded to turn 248 touches into 1,132 yards and 9 touchdowns. Ford had another 790 yards from scrimmage in 2024. He didn’t see much action last year after the Browns drafted Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson.

ord signed a one-year deal with the Commanders this spring, but was released with an injury settlement in August.

“(He’s) a guy we’ve been monitoring for a while,” O’Connell said. “He’s healthy now and getting him in here will be huge.”

Ford has 18 career starts and roughly 400 more touches than Dallas over the past three seasons. If he can pick up the Vikings’ playbook quickly, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him elevated from the practice squad this week. If the Vikings don’t feel Claiborne is ready, it could be Ford who winds up getting some of the early-down work that would’ve gone to Mason.

Jerome Ford goes 66 yards on the first play!

📺: #CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/YN2W5ItZgk

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024