Vikings RB Mason placed on IR after having surgery on thumb
Vikings RB Mason placed on IR after having surgery on thumb. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Vikings RB Mason placed on IR after having surgery on thumbMinnesota Vikings4hKevin SeifertEmmitt Smith: Ravens' Henry has stamina to break my rushing recordBaltimore Ravens5hJamison HensleyNiners' Stribling to miss about 10 weeks; TE Tonges out for seasonSan Francisco 49ers2hNick WagonerFalcons' Penix 'close' but still uncertain for Week 2Atlanta Falcons2hMarc RaimondiNFL Power Rankings: Our post-Week 1 poll of all 32 teams, plus the best non-QB debutsKansas City Chiefs2dNFL NationI caught a TD pass from Dak: 9 stories as Prescott nears Romo's Cowboys recordDallas Cowboys13hTodd ArcherWhy Ben Johnson's pithy 'No block, no rock' has taken hold of the Chicago BearsChicago Bears13hCourtney CroninAnother slow start for the Broncos?
What happened
Vikings running back Jordan Mason was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb. Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason will miss at least the next four weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured thumb, coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday — a second significant injury for the team's offense one game into the season. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell had indicated on Monday that Mason exited Week 1 with thumb soreness and would have the injury evaluated, with the follow-up revealing a small fracture in the digit that required "fixing," per The Athletic's Alec Lewis.
3 wide receiver, was placed on injured reserve after having wrist surgery and will be out for a month. Aaron Jones' arrow points up as Vikings put Jordan Mason on IRBy Tristan H. Jordan Mason, who emerged from Week 1 as a potential pickup/trade target, instead unexpectedly landed on injured reserve on Wednesday due to a thumb injury. After all, it was Mason's 28-yard run early in the fourth quarter that played a big part in the Vikings' drive that earned them a lead they wouldn't relinquish, and his explosiveness is noticeably greater than that of 31-year-old Aaron Jones Sr. 's at this stage of his career.
The wider picture
A. teams floppingLos Angeles Rams3dDan GrazianoNFL awards: Caleb Williams makes big jump in MVP race1dDoug GreenbergEarly bets for Week 2: Four games worth targeting2dESPNplayVikings come back and beat the Packers in Week 1 (1:35)Kevin SeifertSep 16, 2026, 03:13 PM ETCloseKevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. With quarterback Kyler Murray's status in doubt for Sunday's game at the Chicago Bears as he works through the concussion protocol, the Vikings scrambled to find depth behind starting tailback Aaron Jones Sr.
The team also has rookie running back Demond Claiborne on its roster, but he was inactive for the Vikings' 39-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Although Jones got the start Sunday against the Packers, Mason led the team with 15 carries for 59 yards. It is unclear when he suffered the injury, but O'Connell said Mason reported soreness Monday, leading to further examination. O'Connell said he did not anticipate Mason's recovery taking longer than four weeks.
The likeliest scenario is that Dallas, who signed with the Vikings on Sept. O'Connell said the Vikings will monitor Murray day-by-day and added: "The protocol is kind of the guiding light.
What has been reported
Skip to main content Skip to navigation Buzz: Aaron Jones arrow up as Vikes put Jordan Mason on IR, plus NFL Nation notes5hESPN FantasyNFL Week 2 buzz: QB questions in Seattle, Minnesota and Atlanta? An IR move rules Mason out for the next four games. His absence dramatically alters the Vikings' offensive game plan heading into Week 2, a game in which they might also be without starting quarterback Kyler Murray (concussion). Expect Jones to handle the majority of the Vikings' carries over the next four weeks, with DeeJay Dallas elevating to No.
3 status for Week 2, as he's the Vikings running back with intriguing upside. The early-season schedule doesn't get easier in DenverDenver Broncos13hJeff LegwoldCould David Montgomery be key to unlock Texans' offense? 1 task after loss: Protect Jordan Love11hRob DemovskyColts' D looked lost vs. Ravens, and Patrick Mahomes is next11hStephen Holder49ers find balance in the run game with Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black11hNick WagonerLet's kick off NFL Week 2: Seven things Solak thinks — including that Houston's offense could be decentBuffalo Bills2dBen SolakSizing up four Week 1 offensive explosions: Barnwell on the Bears, Ravens, Bills and JaguarsChicago Bears2dBill BarnwellLooking back at NFLPA report cards — team travel edition: Who pays for the best planes, hotels?
What happens next
Feelings: What eight notable Week 1 performances mean for Week 211hLiz LozaFantasy football matchup rankings for Week 2: Prescott, McLaurin poised to rebound4hTristan H. CockcroftNFL playoff picture: Updated projections, chances to make the postseason2dESPN staffProjecting the 2027 NFL draft order: Which teams could have an early pick? Arizona Cardinals2dESPN staffNFL win rate metrics leaderboard: Ranking the best in pass rushing, run stopping and blocking1dESPN Analytics'I'm willing to do whatever it takes': Inside the 274 days that rebuilt Patrick MahomesKansas City Chiefs2dNate TaylorWhat to know from Sunday's Week 1 games — including the Giants' statement win over DallasCleveland Browns3dNFL NationResist the urge to overreact to Week 1!
Making sense of Lamar Jackson's big day, both L. 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.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across espn.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.