Jordan Mason may challenge Aaron Jones Sr. for Minnesota Vikings lead carries

The Minnesota Vikings are shifting to a wide-zone rushing scheme under the guidance of newly hired assistant head coach Frank Smith. This schematic change could impact the distribution of carries for the 2026 season, as team evaluators believe the new system favors Jordan Mason. While Aaron Jones Sr. remains a significant part of the roster, reports suggest a potential shift where Mason takes on a larger share of the workload. Statistics from the previous season show Mason recorded a 56% rushing success rate across 159 attempts, compared to a 50% success rate for Jones across 132 attempts. Although the backfield responsibilities are not yet finalized, the organization appears prepared to transition toward a potential 60-40 split favoring Mason to better suit the team’s new offensive identity.

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