The Minnesota Vikings made the moves that were expected with Aaron Jones out with a hamstring injury — landing Cam Akers for a third consecutive season after beginning the year without him on the 53-man roster.
Jordan Mason excelled in a bellcow role, racking up 116 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries — all season highs for the former San Francisco 49ers back who was pulled in the third quarter of a dominant 48-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Zavier Scott flashed what he had during the preseason, tallying 51 yards from scrimmage on eight touches from the former college wide receiver.
Yet, the Vikings went looking for more ahead of a two-week trip to the United Kingdom.
On Tuesday, September 23, the Vikings made a series of roster moves that included the signing of former San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Corey Kiner to the practice squad. Third-year running back Xazavian Valladay was released to make room for Kiner.
New Vikings RB Corey Kiner Shined With 49ers Before Injury Setback
Undrafted in April, Kiner suffered a high ankle sprain in the 49ers‘ second preseason game that led to him being waived with an injury designation.
A former teammate of Ivan Pace Jr. at Cincinnati, Kiner took 477 carries for 2,562 yards and 14 touchdowns in 34 games for the Bearcats. Lacking in upside explosiveness, Kiner made a name for himself with his vision, processing and patience as a runner.
During the preseason, Kiner tallied 68 rushing yards on 12 carries and forced four missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus. He also had a pair of 10-plus yard runs and outshined fifth-round rookie Jordan James.
“I was encouraged with some of the young guys,” Shanahan said after Kiner’s second preseason game. “I liked how Corey ran. I thought he ran hard. We’ll keep pushing him to get better as a runner, but I just loved the mentality he ran with. Those are the things that stuck out the most.”
The Vikings have already struck big by landing a former San Francisco running back in Mason, who looked attuned to playing in a similar zone-running scheme in Minnesota.
If I had to pick *the next* Jordan Mason, it’d (ironically) be #49ers rookie UDFA Corey Kiner,” former CBS Sports draft expert Chris Trapasso wrote. “Slippery, smooth, compact runner. Perfect landing with Shanahan.”
Aaron Jones Timeline to Return
The Vikings offense took a hit when Jones exited a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a hamstring injury.
It proved significant, with the team placing him on the injured reserve list last week, requiring a minimum four-game absence before he returns to practice and the active roster.
Much like the quarterback situation, the Vikings running game struggled at times with the absence of starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Jones averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in the first two games without Darrisaw but made hay as a receiver, catching three passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 1, Mason took a lion’s share of the workload on the ground, tallying 68 yards rushing on 15 carries while Jones saw just eight carries for a 2.9-yard clip.
Mason looked like the better back through two games and should be considered the primary ballcarrier.
However, Jones is too good an all-around talent to sideline in a supplemental role. The Vikings will likely lean on Jones for more work in the passing game and ride the hot hand in the running game.
Vikings Land New Rookie RB After Aaron Jones Injury