The Minnesota Vikings have placed running back Jordan Mason on injured reserve after surgery to repair a fractured right thumb, reshaping their backfield before Sunday’s Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears.
Mason will miss at least four games. Minnesota promoted DeeJay Dallas from the practice squad to the active roster and added veteran Jerome Ford to the practice squad, giving the Vikings immediate depth behind Aaron Jones while Mason recovers.
Mason’s absence removes Minnesota’s Week 1 rushing leader
Mason led the Vikings with 59 rushing yards on 15 carries in their season-opening win over Green Bay and scored on a 1-yard run. He also produced a game-high 28-yard rush as Minnesota finished with 34 attempts for 107 yards.
The thumb injury was significant enough to require surgery, and injured reserve guarantees Mason will miss at least four games. NFL.com reported that head coach Kevin O’Connell does not expect the absence to extend much beyond that short-term window, but Minnesota now has to redistribute Mason’s workload immediately.
That matters because Mason gave the Vikings a physical complement to Jones and helped them maintain a two-back structure. Without him, Minnesota has less proven early-down depth and may need to mix roles rather than simply hand all of Mason’s carries to one replacement.
DeeJay Dallas moves onto the active roster
Dallas is the most immediate replacement. Minnesota signed him to the practice squad earlier this month and elevated him for Week 1, when he played six offensive snaps and 19 on special teams.
His Week 1 impact came primarily on special teams, including a key block on Myles Price’s 68-yard kickoff return. Now that Dallas is on the 53-man roster, the Vikings can use him as a regular game-day option without relying on another standard elevation.
Dallas has experience as a runner, receiver and returner, which gives Minnesota flexibility even if he does not step directly into Mason’s exact role. He can handle situational offensive work while also preserving his special-teams value.
Jerome Ford gives Minnesota another veteran option
The Vikings also added Ford to the practice squad. The former Browns running back has 18 career starts and produced his best season in 2023, when he rushed for 813 yards and four touchdowns.
Ford spent the offseason with Washington before being waived after a hamstring injury in training camp. Minnesota does not need to rush him into a game-day role, but adding him now gives the coaching staff another experienced option while Mason is unavailable.
The timing is useful because the Vikings can evaluate Ford’s conditioning and fit while Dallas handles the immediate active-roster vacancy. If Minnesota needs another runner later in Mason’s IR stint, Ford provides a ready-made candidate for elevation or promotion.
The backfield change comes during a broader Week 2 injury week
Mason’s move is not the Vikings’ only health issue. Quarterback Kyler Murray was limited Wednesday as he progresses through the concussion protocol, and Minnesota also listed Brian O’Neill, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman as limited.
FSN previously reported on Murray’s limited return to practice while his Week 2 status remains open. Losing Mason at the same time increases the importance of Minnesota having a stable run-game plan, especially if Carson Wentz has to make another start.
What to watch next
The first question is how Minnesota divides carries behind Jones against Chicago. Dallas is now available as an active-roster option, while Ford’s practice work will determine how quickly he can become part of the game-day plan.
Mason’s minimum four-game absence also gives the Vikings a clear evaluation window. If Dallas handles the expanded role and Ford gets up to speed, Minnesota may be able to absorb the injury without making another outside move. If not, the backfield could remain an active roster-management area throughout September.
Sources
- Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Mason placed on injured reserve; DeeJay Dallas promoted (September 16, 2026)
- Minnesota Vikings: Initial Week 2 injury report (September 16, 2026)
- NFL.com: Jordan Mason heads to IR with fractured thumb (September 16, 2026)