Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim (RB12) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.
In the last few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have shown a desire to deepen their running back room, adding Abram Smith and Aaron Dykes while auditioning veterans Kareem Hunt and Mike Davis.
For now, Minnesota plans to enter the 2023 season with a one-two punch at RB of Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler. The rest of the RB depth chart is to-be-determined this week.
And if the Vikings seek any additional RB depth, another intriguing name is available, one with hometown ties — Mohamed Ibrahim.
The Lions main social media account tweeted last week, “Lions have signed S Scott Nelson and waived injured RB Mohamed Ibrahim.”
Detroit did not place Ibrahim on Injured Reserve, which usually implies the injury is not too serious, and the player is free to sign anywhere in the NFL.
Before the Vikings roster shave-downs — the deadline for a 53-man roster is Tuesday, August 29th, at 3:00 pm CST — this is the RB group:
RB1: Alexander Mattison
RB2: Ty Chandler
RB3: Kene Nwangwu
RB4: DeWayne McBride
RB5: Abram Smith
RB6: Aaron Dykes
Minnesota will keep three or four halfbacks for the regular season, so, in theory, if the club added Ibrahim, he’d likely land on the practice squad. But the would-be relationship would excite Vikings fans who also have ties to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Ibrahim was undrafted in April, latching onto the Lions 90-man roster from the UDFA wire. He was quite prolific at the University of Minnesota, though, tallying 4,668 rushing yards on 867 attempts (a 5.4 yards per carry average) with 53 touchdowns. Ibrahim appeared in 41 career games as a Gopher.
The soon-to-be 25-year-old was a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten in 2020 and 2022 and probably would’ve earned the recognition in 2021 if not for injury. Ibrahim was also a Third-Team All-American in 2020 and the Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year in 2020.
Ibrahim is 5’8″ and 203 pounds with 4.5-forty speed.
The Vikings will navigate new RB waters in 2023, embarking on a season without an Adrian Peterson or Dalvin Cook on the roster for the first time since 2006. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah ended the expensive RB era in June when Cook was released, and the playmaker signed with the New York Jets two months later.
Minnesota has one other Gopher alumnus on the current roster, DE Esezi Otomewo.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.