Jordan Mason's 'Sore Thumb' Lands Him on IR as Vikings Sign DeeJay Dallas

Going from "day-to-day with a sore thumb" to a mandatory four-week vacation on Injured Reserve is the exact kind of medical escalation that makes fantasy managers want to throw their phones into a river.

That is exactly what happened to Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason. After reporting a sore thumb following a 39-22 Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Mason has officially been placed on IR, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the roster moves on Twitter."

To fill the void on the 53-man roster, Minnesota is bringing in veteran running back DeeJay Dallas.

Mason was supposed to be a reliable piece of this offense. He racked up 758 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2025, proving he could handle early-down work when called upon. Losing him for at least a month over a thumb sprain is a brutal blow to a team that just looked dominant against a division rival.

Dallas, meanwhile, arrives with a resume that is mostly special teams trivia at this point. He managed just 21 rushing yards in all of 2025. His biggest recent claim to fame is scoring the NFL's first-ever dynamic kickoff return touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals.

Replacing a bruising runner with a kick-return specialist means the Vikings are going to have to get creative. If you are holding Minnesota futures tickets, watching the depth chart thin out in Week 2 is enough to make you sweat.

Dallas will suit up immediately, but nobody should expect him to inherit Mason's workload. The Vikings will have to piece together their backfield rotation for the next month, making this a situation bettors should completely avoid until someone actually proves they can hold onto the football.