The Minnesota Vikings’ trip to New Jersey quickly turned into one to forget. After dealing with travel issues that delayed their arrival ahead of the Week 16 matchup, the Vikings saw their problems spill onto the field almost immediately against the New York Giants.
On the opening drive of the game, Minnesota lost both of its top running backs. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones were injured before the first quarter ended, forcing the Vikings to adjust their offense far earlier than planned.
- Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones both left during the opening drive
- Both were initially listed as questionable with ankle injuries
- Mason was later ruled out; Jones returned
Jordan Mason injury update
Mason’s injury occurred with 11:35 remaining in the first quarter. He caught a short pass from quarterback J.J. McCarthy for six yards and took a hit after the catch. Mason remained down following the play and was eventually helped off the field.
The running back was later seen being taken to the locker room on a cart with a towel over his head. Although he was initially announced as questionable to return, the Vikings later ruled Mason out for the remainder of the game.
At that point, Mason appeared to be in more distress than a typical “questionable” designation suggested, leaving Minnesota without one of its primary backfield options for the rest of the afternoon.
Aaron Jones injury update
Jones was the first Vikings running back to exit on the opening drive. He went into the medical tent and was also listed as questionable with an ankle injury.
Unlike Mason, Jones was able to return. After coming out of the tent, he put his helmet back on, was seen jogging on the sideline, and later re-entered the game, indicating his injury was not as serious.
Who stepped in for the Vikings?
With both Mason and Jones sidelined early, the Vikings were forced to turn to their depth. Zavier Scott became the primary running back without an injury, while fullback C.J. Ham was also available in the backfield.
The sudden injuries added another challenge for an offense already dealing with a difficult road setup and an early-game disruption.
What comes next
The Vikings have not yet provided further details on Mason’s injury beyond ruling him out of the game. Jones’ return offered some stability, but the opening-drive injuries set the tone for a difficult afternoon.
For official updates, Minnesota’s injury designations are published on the Vikings’ official website and tracked league-wide via the NFL injury report.
You may also like: More NFL injury updates on Swikblog
