When the Minnesota Vikings traded for former San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason back in March, it was seen by many as a depth move. Aaron Jones was set to carry on as the team's starter, with the new acquisition serving in a backup role. Nobody expected it to become one of the most impactful moves of the offseason, but that's exactly what's happened.
Three weeks into the 2025 season, Mason has become not just the Vikings' starting running back but one of the most important pieces of their offense.
His reliability and versatile skill set could make him the center of Minnesota's rushing attack for years to come.
Jordan Mason set to become the top running back for the Minnesota Vikings
Jones is currently on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but there were signs of a shift in the Vikings' running back room even before he went down. Early in the season, the veteran was serving primarily as a pass-catching back while Mason took on the bulk of the rushing work. And the recent acquisition shone with every opportunity he was given.
In three games with the Vikings, he already has 214 yards and two rushing touchdowns, averaging over five yards per carry. He's become the focal point of the offense while the passing attack gets up to speed.
He had the chance to truly shine as the starter in the Vikings' Week 3 battle with the Cincinnati Bengals with Jones out, and he made the most of it. He turned his 16 carries into 116 yards and two touchdowns, helping Minnesota control the game from start to finish.
As Jones recovers from his injury over the next few weeks, Mason will get a trial run as the team's featured back. If he's able to continue in his current form, the starting job might not be there for Jones when he comes back. This injury, as unfortunate as it is, could be the catalyst for a long-term shift in the Vikings' backfield.
As widely loved as Jones is, that's not a bad thing. The 30-year-old might not be able to command a full-time workload at this point in his career without being a serious injury risk. Instead, he can serve in a more specialized role while Mason takes the majority of the carries. Together, the two running backs could help propel this offense forward and set J.J. McCarthy up for success whenever he returns.