Vikings Finally Unpack Jordan Mason From IR Bubble Wrap

The Minnesota Vikings are finally getting their backfield insurance policy out of the bubble wrap. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that running back Jordan Mason is set to be activated from injured reserve today after recovering from a fractured thumb.

A fractured thumb sounds like an injury you get slamming your hand in a car door, but in the NFL, it costs you a month of your career. Mason has been sidelined since Week 2, leaving Aaron Jones Sr. to carry the entire rushing workload like a guy trying to bring all the groceries inside in one single trip.

"Jeremy Fowler reported the Vikings plan to activate Mason if all goes well today."

Before his thumb betrayed him, Mason looked like a legitimate problem for opposing defenses. He carved up the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 for 59 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

Since then, Jones has logged 97 carries as the solo bell cow. That is a terrifying amount of mileage for a veteran back who just popped up on the injury report with a knee issue last month.

Getting Mason back isn't just a nice depth piece; it is a survival mechanism for head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense. The timing could not be better for fantasy managers and prop bettors, either.

The Vikings host the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday, a defense that currently ranks as a highly favorable matchup for opposing running backs.

If all goes well with today's activation, expect Mason to immediately siphon away some of those early-down touches. Jones might still be the primary guy, but Minnesota finally has a two-headed monster again just in time for the meat of their schedule.