Their running back corps is quickly making the roster one of the deepest and most dynamic around! Veteran Aaron Jones was brought back to the team immediately after the opening of free agency. He’s going to be a key part in how the Vikings look to attack and improvise in the backfield. At 30 years old, Jones posted a career-best season in multiple offensive categories last year. He led the league in touches, carries, offensive snaps and rushing yards.
Jones, who is set to make $10 million this year, has almost instantaneously made himself one of the most important players in the Vikings’ offensive gameplan. From the onset of training camp, he set the tone in nearly every drill. This demonstrated confidence from the coaching staff in his experience and capability to provide strong contributions. Jones knows just about everything the Vikings are trying to do this year. He is poised to assume a multidimensional role and have a transformational effect.
“I’m going to be his biggest cheerleader,” Jones stated, referring to his commitment to supporting his teammates as they navigate the season together.
One team, the Minnesota Vikings, has a running back who is an ideal example of this. He was off to a great start to the 2023 season before injuries derailed him. Mattison’s woes mirror those of Dalvin Cook, who had his own futility in 2022 ahead of his release. Going into the season, their wealth of options in the backfield would afford the team versatility and depth, making his loss less impactful.
Adding to the running back mix is Jordan Mason, acquired by the Vikings in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Mason’s contract was extended at a cost of $5.5 million for the 2025 season, demonstrating the Vikings’ commitment to his development within their system. Mason opened Monday’s full-pads practice with the first carry of first-team drills, showcasing his immediate integration into the team’s plans.
Mason didn’t have many opportunities in the passing game with the 49ers, he was targeted just 14 times in 45 games. Still, Tibbs initially surprised the Vikings in the spring workouts with his demonstrated receiving prowess, leading to an opportunity in camp. That’s potentially great news, as Minnesota prepares to reimagine its one-dimensional offense.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell expressed confidence in the team’s running back rotation, stating, “We’ve got truly a combination that will cause a lot of problems.” This speaks to the staff’s confidence in their RBs’ abilities to generate mismatches versus enemy fronts.
As the Vikings are preparing for the 2023 season, so too are we. They are the proud owners of arguably the most expensive backfield in the entire NFL. Sure, only four other teams have invested more dollars in their running backs this season. This investment is indicative not just of the team’s long-term strategy, but their desire to compete at the highest level, week-in, week-out.
Jones himself has said he’s “accustomed to splitting snaps,” after all. This newfound clarity might be most important in informing the Vikings’ approach to their now-expansive and talented roster. The coaching staff has a lot of talented running backs at their disposal. They need to highly monitor each individual player’s workload to optimize performance and maximize risk of injury.
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