The Aaron Jones injury sucks.
There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Heading into the season, Jones was expected to be the lead back for a Minnesota Vikings team that revamped the running game. They bolstered the offensive line with the additions of Ryan Kelly and Will Fries, and all indications pointed to a strong ground game that would help alleviate pressure on first-year starter J.J. McCarthy.
Not only is McCarthy down for the count, but so is that lead back, a year removed from a career high in touches. This was supposed to be the year the Vikings finally ran the ball at a decent efficiency after three straight years of below-average production.
However, they have not lived up to their billing this year. The Vikings are once again in the bottom half of the league in rushing yards, attempts, and touchdowns. Game script may be a factor. They trailed the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears for most of their first two games. Still, it’s apparent that when they get the chance to run, they aren’t taking advantage.
That is, unless Jordan Mason has the football.
Mason is PFF’s fifth-highest graded rusher through two weeks (77.7), averaging 4.1 yards per rush compared to Jones’ 3.5. He’s among the top-10 in the league in rush yards over expected and yards after contact per attempt, categories he also dominated a year ago.
He’s been by far the most efficient rusher on the Vikings, and that is evident based on how often they give him the ball. Jones may have gotten the touchdown in Week 1, but Mason outgained Jones on the ground and ignited the comeback with 30 yards on Minnesota’s first drive of the fourth quarter, a series that ended in a Justin Jefferson score.
In Week 2, there wasn’t much to like. The Vikings only mustered 198 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times in a 22-6 thrashing. Still, Mason felt like the lone bright spot, pacing Jones in yards and carries for a second straight game and being the featured back on both of Minnesota’s scoring drives.
During his seven games as the San Francisco 49ers’ starting RB during Christian McCaffrey’s injury last year, Mason averaged 95.3 yards per game on the ground at 5.2 yards per attempt, finishing fifth in the league among RBs. He had three 100-yard rushing games, led the NFL in yards after contact, and was near the top of the league in total yards before McCaffrey came back. Basically, when he was on the field, he was elite.
The Vikings initially brought Mason in to be a short-yardage, bruiser-style back. He’s 5’11”, 223 lbs., so he has a 15 lb. advantage on Jones that allows him to run well between the tackles and provide a nice change of pace role. Jones would then be able to catch passes, an area in which he has more experience than Mason, and run out in the open field.
However, history has shown that Mason can also dominate the open field. He had nine runs of 20-plus yards last season, which was sixth in the NFL despite not having a full-time role for most of the year. Even before Jones went down last week, Mason caught a couple of passes out of the backfield, showing the Vikings trust him in the passing game.
Before the season kicked off, there was a cohort of fans and analysts who believed Mason could take over Jones’ starting role. He’s young, has experience as a lead back, and his time in that role proves he has the ability. This four-week audition will determine whether the success he achieved in San Francisco can be replicated in Minnesota’s offense.
There’s no reason to think it won’t.
“I’m not sure we could have much more confidence in Jordan as a bellcow kind of back,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said.
The Vikings are at their best when both running backs are on the field. Losing one of them is not ideal, but it’s also not the worst thing in the world to see the better back get a chance to shine.
Mason can be an every-down player, something he’s already shown in his time with the 49ers and his first two games with the Vikings. In a battle of backup QBs on Sunday, having Mason is a huge blessing for Minnesota, and I expect him to make the most of his opportunity.