Vikings running back Jordan Mason designated to return from injured reserve
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The gist
The Vikings designated running back Jordan Mason for return from injured reserve after a thumb fracture.
He has three weeks to practice before the team must activate him.
Background
Jordan Mason is a Minnesota Vikings running back and former San Francisco 49ers player who led the Vikings with 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season. He fractured his thumb in the Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers and went on injured reserve, which required him to miss at least four games; the team's Week 6 bye added recovery time. The Vikings are 5-0 and have leaned heavily on veteran Aaron Jones Sr., whose 19.4 rushing attempts per game would be far above his career rate over a full season.
How it unfolded
- Sep 13, 2026Mason fractured his thumb in the Vikings' season opener against the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 59 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown in the Week 1 win.
- Oct 15, 2026ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Vikings hoped to get Mason back in Week 7 after the bye.
- Oct 17, 2026ESPN's Kevin Seifert reported Mason was expected to return after the Week 6 bye, having missed his required four games.
- Oct 19, 2026The Vikings designated Mason for return from injured reserve, with practice set for Wednesday.
- Oct 20, 2026The AP reported the designation opened Mason's practice window; NFL rules give him three weeks to practice before he must be added to the active roster or become ineligible for the rest of the season.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- The Athletic's Alec Lewis called the move a big boost for the run game that should take some of the load off Aaron Jones, who has been a warrior in Mason's absence.
- Analysts
- ESPN's Kevin Seifert said there is lots of optimism Mason will be ready for Sunday's game.
- Caution
- Reports that Mason could return as soon as Week 7 against the Colts are described as optimism and hope rather than confirmation.
Still unverified
ESPN's Kevin Seifert and Jeremy Fowler framed a Week 7 return against the Colts as optimism and hope, not a confirmed timeline.