Jordan Mason injury could accelerate Vikings' plans for Max Bredeson

Jordan Mason is on injured reserve with a thumb injury, and the Minnesota Vikings’ most useful adjustment might involve rookie fullback Max Bredeson more than asking one backup running back to imitate Mason.

Minnesota had already committed to Bredeson by drafting him to succeed C.J. Ham after Ham retired. The Vikings then made him their only fullback on the 53-man roster. Mason’s loss changes the backfield, but it also makes the 23-year-old more valuable because he can help Kevin O’Connell keep the heavier personnel packages that were already part of Minnesota’s Week 1 plan.

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Aaron Jones played 30 of 65 offensive snaps against Green Bay, Mason played 29, Bredeson played 24, and DeeJay Dallas played six.

Mason handled 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown; Jones had 12 carries, Dallas caught one pass for one yard, and Bredeson didn’t record a touch.

On special teams, Dallas added 19 snaps and Bredeson 10. Bredeson’s workload was real even without the ball.

Max Bredeson can help Kevin O’Connell keep the Minnesota Vikings’ run-game structure intact

Bredeson’s debut was already substantial before Mason landed on IR. Ham played 184 offensive snaps across 11 games in 2025, an average of 16.7 per appearance. Bredeson cleared that mark by more than seven snaps in his first regular-season game.

The best example came on Jones’ fourth-quarter touchdown. Minnesota used 21 personnel, moved Bredeson before the snap, and had him help seal the edge as Jones scored from three yards out. That’s the kind of job that can become more useful now.

Jones and Dallas can divide the actual backfield touches, while Bredeson lets Minnesota stay physical without making every heavier look an obvious handoff.

Bredeson isn’t Mason’s replacement, and pretending otherwise would miss what Mason gave Minnesota as a downhill runner. Dallas now has a much more direct path to offensive snaps, while rookie Demond Claiborne could still work into the rotation after an underwhelming preseason.

Mason’s absence creates a problem bigger than finding 15 spare carries. The Vikings spent the offseason rebuilding their run-game identity, and Bredeson played 36.9 percent of the opener before anyone knew Mason would miss time.

If that rookie fullback workload holds or grows against Chicago, Minnesota will be showing us exactly how it plans to preserve that identity while Mason recovers.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow