Minnesota Vikings face running back depth crisis amid injuries

The Minnesota Vikings are facing significant depth issues at the running back position due to a series of injuries. While head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed that veteran Aaron Jones will be active for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jones is managing a knee injury and was a limited participant in practice this week.

The team's situation is complicated by the fact that Jordan Mason is on injured reserve following thumb surgery, and backup DeeJay Dallas is also dealing with a toe injury. This has left the Vikings reliant on practice squad players and depth options to manage the workload.

Jerome Ford, a former fifth-round pick with significant NFL experience, is a primary candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to provide relief. The Vikings' decision to manage Jones's workload and the potential reliance on Ford or rookie Demond Claiborne highlights the team's struggle to maintain stability in their backfield early in the season.