Jordan Mason injury update: Vikings place RB on IR with fractured thumb
Jordan Mason giveth. Jordan Mason taketh away.
The Minnesota Vikings running back gave fantasy football teams a reason to smile in Week 1, leading the team with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, that will be the only production he has for a while.
Mason was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury on Wednesday, Sept. 16, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced. It will sideline him for at least four games.
The thumb injury was initially described as “sore” before it was announced as a “small fracture” on Wednesday. Regardless, it marks another injury in the young season for the Vikings, who lost Kyler Murray to a concussion during their Week 1 victory against the Packers.
De’Zhaun Stribling, SF (ankle)
De’Zhaun Stribling of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
De’Zhaun Stribling, SF (ankle)
De’Zhaun Stribling of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
Tua Tagovailoa, ATL (oblique)
Tua Tagovailoa of the Atlanta Falcons runs through drills during OTA’s at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026, in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
A.J. Brown, NE (ankle) – injured reserve
A.J. Brown of the New England Patriots reacts after being injured in a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter in the game at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
Sam Darnold, SEA (hip)
New England Patriots defensive end Dre’Mont Jones sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold during the first quarter at Lumen Field.
Brock Bowers, LV (knee)
Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders waves to fans after warming up before a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Treveyon Henderson, NE (ankle)
Treveyon Henderson of the New England Patriots looks on prior to Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.
Rome Odunze, CHI (calf)
Rome Odunze of the Chicago Bears catches a pass during Chicago Bears Training Camp at Halas Hall on July 29, 2026, in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Alvin Kamara, NO (knee)
Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints on the sidelines before a preseason game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 22, 2026, in Inglewood, California.
Zach Charbonnet, SEA (knee) – PUP list
Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball against by Deommodore Lenoir of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of a game at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.
Isiah Pacheco, DET (back) – Injured reserve
Isiah Pacheco of the Detroit Lions during Detroit Lions Training Camp at Detroit Lions Meijer Performance Center on July 29, 2026, in Allen Park, Michigan.
Jordyn Tyson, NO (hamstring) – Injured reserve
Jordyn Tyson of the New Orleans Saints participates in drills during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 30, 2026, in Metairie, Louisiana.
Tank Dell, HOU (knee) – Injured reserve
Tank Dell of the Houston Texans runs to the practice facility during Houston Texans training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center on August 01, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Christian Kirk, SF (calf) – Injured reserve
Christian Kirk of the Jacksonville Jaguars is introduced against the San Francisco 49ers during the game at EverBank Field on November 12, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida.
Ricky Pearsall, SF (knee) – Out for season
Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.
Chris Brazzell, CAR (knee) – Out for season
Chris Brazzell II of the Carolina Panthers warms up during the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Carolina Panthers Practice Fields on July 23, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jayden Higgins, HOU (knee) – Out for season
Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2026, in Houston, Texas.
Mason is being placed on injured reserve with a small thumb fracture. While the issue has been fixed, the running back will miss at least four games.
The Vikings have a bye in Week 6, meaning Mason won’t be eligible to return until the team’s Week 7 contest at home against the Indianapolis Colts.
In the meantime, expect Aaron Jones to handle the bulk of the work at running back.
Mason will be out until at least the Vikings’ Week 7 game against the Colts, when he becomes eligible to return from injured reserve.
Injured reserve (IR) is for players with a football-related injury who are expected to miss an extended period of time.
Players placed on this list have to miss a minimum of four games before they are eligible to return. As a result, the team can open up the spot on the 53-man roster and add another player to fill the void.
There is also a season-long component to IR that is used when a player suffers a season-ending injury.
Once the player is cleared to return to practice, the team has 21 days to activate them or place them on season-ending IR.
Here’s a look at the Vikings depth chart at running back without Mason:
The team signed Dallas in the wake of Mason’s injury, presumably for added insurance behind Jones and Claiborne. Given the state of the room, it seems like that Jones will handle most of the work for O’Connell’s offense. A capable runner and receiver, Jones adds a pass-catching element that Mason didn’t have in the Vikings’ backfield.
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