The Door Swings Wide Open for a Vikings Playmaker
Injuries have totally rocked the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 campaign, affecting over a dozen players out of the gate.
One Vikings playmaker is the next man up after a barrage of injuries, with a showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals looming next.
Once such example rattled RB1 Aaron Jones, who will hit the shelf indefinitely with a hamstring ailment, virtually guaranteed not to play this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals.
And a byproduct of that injury is an increased workload for RB3 Zavier Scott, who now eyes RB2 duty.
Seas Part for Vikings Running Back
Jones will make his NFL debut on offense.
Zavier Scott Gets His Chance
Aaron Jones is heading to the shelf. NBC Sports’ Myles Simmons wrote Monday, “Quarterback J.J. McCarthy isn’t the only Minnesota player who is unlikely to play in the Week 3 matchup against Cincinnati.”
“Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that running back Aaron Jones is unlikely to play on Sunday with his hamstring injury. Jones was sidelined during the second half of last night’s game. He took five carries for 23 yards before exiting the contest.”
If the Vikings sign no more running backs, the Week 3 RB depth chart would look like this:
- Jordan Mason
- Zavier Scott
- Xazavian Vallady
Yes, that clears a path for Scott to make his NFL debut on offense, on tap to carry the ball for the first time.
Aaron Jones Out for Week 3
Jones has a lengthy history of hamstring injuries, so the injury on Sunday night is no surprise.
A clear timetable to return has not been established, but Jones has already been virtually ruled out for Week 3, a showdown with the Jake Browning-led Bengals. The serendipity for Scott allows the unsung tailback to continue his summer trek into the regular season.
At training camp and in the preseason, Scott turned heads as a fresh runner, and especially played well in the first preseason game against the Houston Texans. Minnesota found him last season after the Indianapolis Colts cut him loose. The Vikings stored him away in 2024 on the practice squad and later carried him over to the 2025 roster.
The 6’1″ 220-pounder played wide receiver and running back in college at the University of Connecticut and the University of Maine.
Jones’ hamstring malady is a direct segue for Scott.
Ty Chandler on IR
Meanwhile, Ty Chandler, a fourth-year running back, is on injured reserve with a knee problem. He cannot return until after the bye week, also known as Week 7.
Before the IR trip, Chandler was listed as the RB3 on the depth chart and also handled some kick returning responsibilities in Week 1. Scott served as the RB3 last week with Chandler out, and now that Jones is hurt, too, Scott has leapfrogged both men with some opportunism.
Alternatives to Scott?
Suppose the Vikings aren’t quite ready for Scott as the RB2 this weekend. Well, they’d better pound the pavement soon — on Tuesday or Wednesday — and sign an extra free agent.
These players might make sense if Scott is not deemed a wise RB2 for the foreseeable future:
- Cam Akers
- Gus Edwards
- Khalil Herbert
- Myles Gaskin
- Zack Moss
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Jamaal Williams
Janik Eckardt on Jordan Mason’s Expected Workload
Our Janik Eckardt noted on Jordan Mason’s sudden promotion: “In fact, he looked like the more dynamic rusher in the first two games of the season, and the statistics confirm that. Jones accumulated 13 carries for 46 yards. Mason’s average yards per attempt is higher, his success rate is higher, his rushing yards over expected is superior, and PFF has given him a better rushing grade.”
“None of it is particularly close. There have been voices that want Mason to be the official RB1. Through two games, he has 58 plays on his resume, and Jones has 48, who also started both contests. That conversation, however, will be delayed for at least another week, and the Vikings can test Mason in the starting role.”
Onlookers will track Scott’s touch load in relief of Mason, though it’s not expected to be too close to the Jones-Mason split. Many actually expect Minnesota to sign the aforementioned Akers sometime this week.
“His ability to be a powerful and physical running back might just be what the offense needs early in games. He can set the tone in the first drive or two, while Jones, once he’s back from his absence, can finesse his way through the bruised defense after having to hit Mason multiple times,” Eckardt added.
“In each of the last two games, the Vikings needed multiple drives to gain a first down of the day, and Mason’s juice might be the spark the Vikings need. Expect the 26-year-old to be the featured back for at least one week.”
Scott turned 26 this summer.
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