Is Jordan Mason the Vikings’ Bellcow Back?
The Minnesota Vikings brought back Aaron Jones this offseason. That seemed far from a certainty when the year ended. He was coming off a career-best yardage tally and had been healthier than at any point throughout his career.
Is Jordan Mason the Vikings’ Bellcow Back?
The odd reality is that he is the oldest version of himself.
Jones talked up the Vikings’ training staff plenty. He noted how they had different ideas about his preparation, and how they would get him ready for the rigors of the season prior to it ever kicking off. That turned out to be much more than lip service, and it worked out in the best way possible.
Expecting Jones to run it back and see similar results seems lofty. Another year older, Jones put even more miles on his legs last year. He will try replicating the output, but the Minnesota Vikings probably have a slightly different vision.
This offseason, beyond just Jones, Minnesota traded for San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason. Mason has shown himself a capable starter when asked to take over for the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey. The expectation isn’t that he will be handed the starting role, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he paced the group.
Jones and Mason should see ample opportunity to carry the load for the Vikings. They should feed off one another to keep both players fresh. Given the point in each of their careers, it’s also beyond plausible that Mason winds up being the 1A when it comes to Minnesota’s rushing attack.
Both players can contribute in the passing game, and neither should have to be schemed out of certain situations. From a health and youth perspective, the scales tip in Mason’s favor. I wouldn’t expect him to be featured in any game where Jones is active, but he can do plenty with whatever chances are afforded to him.
Minnesota didn’t have a strong running game last year, even with Jones’ production. Investing in the trenches should change that, and having a tandem of quality options will also help.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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