Why Jordan Mason's return could be a game-changer for Vikings' offense

It was almost cruel. The Vikings finally saw a breakthrough in the running game, featuring a player they were so excited about coming into the season. Then, over the next couple days, they learned that an injury suffered on that play would sideline the player for the next month.It was Week 1 against the Packers. For much of the day, the Vikings had struggled to get anything going with their revamped running game, no matter if Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason was carrying the ball. The Packers came in with a strong plan against Minnesota’s wide zone runs, sending linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on disruptive blitzes.But in the fourth quarter, one finally hit. The Vikings made an adjustment, using a jet motion to take Cooper out of the play. Mason took a wide zone handoff to the left, patiently waited for his crease to open, and exploded through it for a 28-yard gain. A few plays later, Jones got into the end zone to give the Vikings their first lead of the day.Incredible blocking across the board on Jordan Mason’s 28-yard run. The Vikings weren’t efficient on the ground yesterday, but better days are coming in that regard. pic.twitter.com/zECt3NyNHS— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 14, 2026