The Minnesota Vikings are going to have a new leading rusher for next season.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Vikings have informed running back Alexander Mattison on Thursday that they’re going to release him. He’ll now be a free agent when the new league year starts in mid-March.
Mattison had the best season of his career in 2023, compiling 180 carries for 700 yards. He also caught 30 passes for 192 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
He took over the starting job after the Vikings let go of Dalvin Cook.
Mattison has spent his entire five-year career with the Vikings and will finish his tenure with 584 carries for 2,370 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He’ll now get to be one of the top running backs on the market when free agency starts and will have plenty of suitors. There are always teams looking for help in the backfield.
Before he was drafted by the Vikings in the 2019 NFL Draft, he played at Boise State from 2016-18 and compiled 581 carries for 2,829 yards and 33 touchdowns.
His best season came as a senior when he finished with 302 carries for 1,415 yards and 17 touchdowns.