Vikings' RB situation in flux as Jones works through knee injury

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  Kevin SeifertSep 23, 2026, 03:15 PM ET

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  Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

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EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings' offensive backfield is in flux this week as starter Aaron Jones Sr. works through a knee injury and backup Jordan Mason remains on injured reserve.

The team planned to hold Jones out of practice Wednesday, coach Kevin O'Connell said, leaving only one running back on their roster who spent time with them in training camp: rookie Demond Claiborne. Since then, the Vikings have signed three veterans: DeeJay Dallas, Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson. As of Wednesday, Ford and Patterson were on the practice squad. Dallas was promoted to the 53-man roster last week.

Jones, 31, is coming off one of his best games in years after carrying 23 times for 105 yards in the Vikings' 9-3 victory over the Chicago Bears. He said afterward that he finished the game while wearing a knee brace. Jones also had a bruise on his left cheek after absorbing a violent hit to the helmet from Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, one that knocked his helmet off.

O'Connell said that Jones feels "pretty good" but gave no indication whether he will be ready to play in the Vikings' game Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"We'll just keep getting treatment around the clock," O'Connell said, "and see if we can pick up his workload as the week goes on."

Jones' status is especially notable given the additional absence of Mason, who fractured his thumb two weeks ago. The Vikings entered the season with Claiborne as their No. 3 back, but he was inactive in Week 1 and got only two snaps in Week 1. Both were pass plays designed for him to get the ball in space. He caught one for 2 yards, and quarterback Carson Wentz scrambled on the other play.

Dallas got two carries and gained eight yards against the Bears.