Vikings Also Have a Big RB Injury
In addition to roughly 13 more injuries or suspensions that the Minnesota Vikings are currently mitigating, the club’s RB1 won’t be available in Week 3.
It feels like a footnote due to other negative news, but one Vikings tailback will be unavailable in Week 3 as the season takes a turn for the worse.
Aaron Jones injured his hamstring on Sunday Night Football and is not expected to play this weekend at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Without Jones, Minnesota will lean heavily on halfback Jordan Mason.
The Hits Keep on Coming for the Vikings
Jones’ season has been upended.
Aaron Jones Out at Least a Week
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis delivered the injury news, among ailments affecting various others, on Monday: “Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell says C Ryan Kelly and LT Justin Skule are in the concussion protocol. KOC said positive early signs, but that’s totally in the hands of medical staff. RB Aaron Jones is still getting the hamstring evaluated. Likely to be out this week.”
Jones is on the wrong side of 30, and rushing him back from a hamstring injury feels wildly unlikely.
News Almost Buried Because of Worse News
Jones’ injury was met with shrugged shoulders from fans by Monday afternoon because quarterback J.J. McCarthy was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. He’ll miss the next two to four weeks, possibly more, with the team’s bye in Week 6.
Ordinarily, an injury like Jones’ would dominate the weekly news cycle. That won’t happen in mid-September as Minnesota must mollify over a dozen injuries and suspensions (Jordan Addison).
Jordan Mason’s Full Promotion to RB1
Sneakily, Mason might have already taken over the RB1 job with Jones healthy. To the naked eye, he has more pop than Jones through two games, and the numbers confirm the eye test.
Now, without any mysteries anywhere, Mason will get a crack at the RB1 job — perhaps as a bellcow — and it will be up to him to retain it. He doesn’t necessarily have to give the job back to Jones when Jones has healed.
Zavier Scott in the Chamber
What about the rest of the depth chart? Well, that’s a man named Zavier Scott, who turned heads during the preseason and looked the part at training camp.
Scott recently joined the active roster as the RB4 but was promoted last week to RB3 after Ty Chandler hit injured reserve, a current common theme in the Twin Cities.
Until Minnesota signs someone like Cam Akers, Scott is on deck for RB2 duty against the Bengals, where he’ll have a chance to show if his preseason pop is worthy of regular season production. Scott has never fielded a regular season handoff.
More on Jordan Mason
DK Network‘s Sean Barnard opined on Mason’s upcoming outlook: “The biggest thing that has held Mason back to this point has been the lack of opportunities. He has received 20+ carries in just three games in his career and rushed for a combined 370 rushing yards and three touchdowns in these chances.”
“The Georgia Tech product has also never been held below 56 rushing yards in any game that he has had double-digit carries. Mason should be in line for this type of role this week and, even despite his inexperience, should largely be viewed as the safety blanket of this Vikings offense.”
Many fans have actually called for Mason to start as of late, as he’s passed the eye test more than Jones.
Barnard added, “Expect O’Connell to look to keep the game simple for Carson Wentz and for Mason to be a key part of this effort. With a friendly defensive matchup and plenty of expected opportunities, count on him having a strong fantasy football output. Have Mason penciled in as a top 10 fantasy football running back this week, even if the yards and chances come a bit ugly.”
“Jones and McCarthy, as well as one rushing attempt from Justin Jefferson, are the only other players to have logged a rushing attempt for Minnesota this year, and count on Mason delivering as the more sure part of this Vikings’ offense in Week 3.”
The Vikings’ rushing offense ranks 18th per EPA/Play leaguewide through two games.
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