Vikings To Place RB Aaron Jones On IR
Minnesota’s action-packed transaction day now includes a significant IR move. As it turns out, the Cam Akers signing will foreshadow an Aaron Jones trip off the active roster.
The Vikings are placing their starting running back on IR, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He suffered a hamstring injury against the Falcons, joining J.J. McCarthy in encountering a significant setback in the loss. This could well precede an Akers trip back to Minnesota’s active roster. For the foreseeable future, though, it will be Jordan Mason operating as the Vikes’ starting RB.
[RELATED: Vikings To Sign QB Desmond Ridder]
Jones re-signed with the Vikings on a two-year, $20MM deal — a raise from last year — after posting his fourth NFL 1,000-yard rushing season. The former fifth-round Packers pick has been one of the league’s better backs since debuting in 2017, and he played a lead role in the Vikings’ 14-3 showing last year. Jones’ 1,546 scrimmage yards came close to toppling his career-best mark, and he played a full season for the second time this decade.
At 30, however, Jones is on the older end of the RB spectrum. Injuries can be expected, though this will only be his second IR trip. The Packers placed Jones on IR due to a knee injury in 2018. While Jones has missed time since, he has avoided any IR stays during his run as a well-paid RB. Jones played in at least 14 games in all but one season from 2019-24. In the year he did not hit that threshold — an 11-game 2019 — the dynamic RB powered the Pack to a divisional-round berth.
Jones missed time in 2023 due to hamstring and MCL maladies; upon return, he submitted one of the best stretches of his career. Jones rampaged for five straight 100-yard rushing games between Week 16 and the divisional round. His three rushing scores led the Pack to a stunning wild-card rout of the Cowboys in Round 1 that year. That came after the Packers reduced his 2023 pay. After Jones balked at another Packers pay-cut attempt, they released him. The Vikings received considerable value on their subsequent one-year, $7MM agreement, but their two-year re-signing is not off to a strong start.
Minnesota saw Jones go down during a Week 2 loss to Atlanta. This came after the team gave Mason a substantial Week 1 role, moving this backfield to a committee setup after Jones worked as the clear leading man in 2024. Mason is also on a two-year deal (worth $10.5MM), but both players’ 2026 guarantees stand at $2MM. That will give Minnesota some flexibility on Jones, who may well need to submit a strong finish to an already-injury-marred season to return for a third Vikings slate. Mason is all but certain to be on the team’s 2026 roster, and the ex-49ers backup has a long runway to prove himself now.
This will mark the second straight year Mason is needed to replace a 2017 RB draftee early in a season. Christian McCaffrey‘s Achilles trouble kept him off the field to start last season, and Mason shined as a fill-in. Mason did end his 2024 season on IR due to a high ankle sprain, but he drew a second-round RFA tender from the 49ers. That became a precursor to a March trade.
Akers’ experience in Kevin O’Connell‘s system should matter, but the team will likely lean on the offseason trade acquisition while using Akers and Zavier Scott (one career game) as backup options. Akers is on the Vikes’ practice squad but can be elevated three times without a corresponding roster move being necessary.
Vikings To Re-Sign RB Cam Akers
For a third straight year, Cam Akers is joining the Vikings. The frequent Kevin O’Connell charge is heading back to Minnesota on a practice squad deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports.
O’Connell, who coached Akers from 2020-21 as Rams OC, traded for the former second-round pick in 2023 and ’24. After failing to make the Saints’ 53-man roster, Akers is rejoining the Vikings.
The Vikings ended Akers’ strange Rams stay in September 2023 by trading a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick for him. That did not end up conveying due to Akers’ second Achilles tear. Despite that injury’s impact on running backs, Akers again drew Vikings interest in 2024. Months after signing with the Texans, Akers ended up back in Minnesota in a deal involving a swap of 2026 Day 3 picks. This transaction will be simpler, but Akers’ recent past points to having earned trust from this particular coaching staff.
Both O’Connell and OC Wes Phillips were on Los Angeles’ staff when the team drafted Akers in the 2020 second round. Although Akers and Sean McVay did not see eye-to-eye following the Florida State alum’s first Achilles tear (July 2021), he has fans in Minnesota.
Last season, Akers usurped Ty Chandler as Aaron Jones‘ top backup. Adding onto his early-season Texans work, Akers finished with 444 rushing yards on 104 carries last season. Despite a November 2023 Achilles tear, he suited up for 18 games last year.
Chandler remains under contract, having helped the Vikes defeat the Bears in Week 1 as O’Connell instructed him to run a fourth-quarter kickoff out of the end zone to ensure Chicago could not use the two-minute warning timeout to its advantage, but landed on IR before Week 2. O’Connell said Jones is unlikely to suit up next week due to a hamstring injury, creating this need. The team does, however, have Zavier Scott in place as an active-roster option. The former UDFA out of Maine, however, has played in one career game and has yet to handle an NFL handoff. Akers would make more sense as a Mason backup, which would bring a role reprisal.
Losing Jones deals a blow to O’Connell’s offense, but Akers’ experience would stand to soften it. Although the retooling Saints did not deem Akers — who caught on after a minicamp tryout — worthy of a roster spot, it will be interesting to see if the Vikes elevate him from their practice squad for Week 3.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/25
Here’s are today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: TE Josiah Deguara
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DT Zion Logue
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed from practice squad: WR Ryan Flournoy
- Elevated: CB Zion Childress, CB Robert Rochell
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Adam Prentice, LB Garret Wallow
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: LB Monty Rice
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Ulysses Bentley IV, CB Chris Lammons
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylon Jones (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Cornell Armstrong
- Elevated: K Riley Patterson, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: CB Fabian Moreau, OLB Gabriel Murphy
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Kobee Minor, LB Mark Robinson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: DE Jonah Williams
- Elevated: S Terrell Burgess, DE Fadil Diggs
- Placed on IR: S Julian Blackmon (story)
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Elevated: CB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu
- Placed on IR: T Cameron Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Jon Rhattigan
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: LB Curtis Robinson
- Elevated: QB Adrian Martinez, TE Brayden Willis
- Waived: DE Robert Beal Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S D’Anthony Bell, DT Brandon Pili
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: C Corey Levin
- Elevated: RB Jordan Mims, T John Ojukwu
- Waived: T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
With one quarterback on the reserve/non-football injury list and starter Brock Purdy inactive, Martinez comes up with the potential to appear in his first ever NFL game, though Niners fans hope his presence will not be necessary.
Bell will be active for tomorrow’s game as the Seahawks work to replace second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori in the secondary. Emmanwori has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Similarly, Wallow will be part of the Broncos’ efforts to fill in for injured linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has been ruled out for the second week in a row.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/11/25
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Tyrek Funderburk, LB Sione Takitaki
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jack Conley
- Released: G Mehki Butler
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Gabe Hall
- Released: DT Jacob Sykes
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Cody White
Funderburk and Takitaki earned practice squad spots in Minnesota after a successful tryout. Other players who worked out for the Vikings on Thursday include cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Brandon Crossley and linebackers Jamin Davis and Ty Summers, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
The Seahawks released White from their 53-man roster on Thursday to make room for Shaquill Griffin, who was promoted from the practice squad. White, a vested veteran, did not need to pass through waivers and immediately re-signed to the Vikings’ practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/25
Here are Thursday’s minor moves from around the league:
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: OT Brant Banks, CB Micah Robinson
- Placed on injured reserve: DL Brenton Cox
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tim Jones, TE Nick Vannett
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Jets): WR/KR Xavier Gipson
- Placed on IR: LB Micah McFadden (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: WR Cody White
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: C Michael Deiter, P Mitch Wishnowsky
Gipson was waived by the Jets after a costly fumble in Week 1, but will not need to switch states (or even home stadiums) when joining the Giants. The 24-year-old will serve as a depth receiver for his new team and could also contribute as a returner.
The NFL also issued a three-game suspension for free agency safety Qwuantrezz Knight, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Knight appeared in six games for the Cardinals in 2023.
Vikings Place LB Blake Cashman, RB Ty Chandler On IR
Blake Cashman‘s Week 1 hamstring injury made him a candidate for injured reserve. A month-long absence (if not longer) is indeed now in store for the veteran linebacker. 
Cashman was placed on IR Thursday, per a team announcement. As a result, he is now set to miss at least the next four games. Minnesota also placed running back and kick returner Ty Chandler on injured reserve.
Cashman split his first five seasons between the Jets and Texans, becoming a full-time starter in 2023. The Eden Prairie native then signed with his hometown team last offseason and again operated as a first-team regular, setting new career highs in several categories along the way. Cashman handled 43 defensive snaps before getting injured on Monday.
The Minnesota product is in line to remain a key figure at the second level of Brian Flores’ defense when healthy. That will not be the case until at least Week 7, however, given the timing of the Vikings’ bye. In the meantime, the team will move forward with veteran Eric Wilson as a fill-in starter. Cashman is on the books through 2026, although none of his salary for that year is guaranteed.
A quick return to action will therefore be key in that situation, and the same is also true of Chandler. The former fifth-rounder has seen sparse usage on offense over the course of his Vikings tenure, but he has been an important special teams contributor. That includes his work in the return game; on Monday, Chandler ran back three kickoffs for a total of 84 yards. The 27-year-old is a pending free agent.
The Vikings’ fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 led to a win. They will aim to improve to 2-0 against the Falcons on Sunday night, but Cashman and Chandler’s absence will be felt.
Vikings S Harrison Smith Expects To Be Back By Week 4
After mulling retirement in the early days of the offseason, Vikings safety Harrison Smith opted to play another year and re-signed to play with the only team he’s ever known. Unfortunately, what may end up being his final season of NFL play got off to an ominous start that’s seen him absent from football activities since August 11. Nearly a full month later, Smith finally spoke publicly on the matter today and asserted that he expects to be back by Week 4 of the regular season. 
The first rumors that rolled in at the end of August called Smith’s issue an illness. The ailment caused the 36-year-old to sit out of the team’s final two weeks of training camp, but reports claimed he was expected to make a full recovery. In his first comments since the news broke, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Smith clarified that his struggles were unassociated with his mental health. Though he declined to go into specifics, he assured the media that the nature of the issue was “physical.”
“I’m just trying to get my conditioning up,” Smith said about his plans moving forward. “I’m going to go out there and see how much I can handle and go from there. I’ve already moved around, and I’m moving around well. It’s just volume and conditioning.”
The Vikings pointedly decided not to place him on an injured list at the roster cut deadline; the injured reserve with a designation to return and the reserve/non-football illness list were both viable options. They seemingly opted not to do so because he would have been forced to miss the first four weeks of the season before being eligible to return to the active roster, and they believed he would be ready to return sooner.
Smith appears to be doing his best to reward their confidence in him, as he told the media, “We’re kind of fluid with if I’m ready to go or not, and if I am going to help the team or not. That all matters. But I expect to be back before (the four-week mark).”
Vikings’ Blake Cashman Expected To Miss Several Weeks
Blake Cashman is entering his second season with his hometown team, but the Twin Cities native appears an IR candidate after a Week 1 injury.
A starter since signing a three-year Vikings deal in 2024, Cashman is expected to miss “several” weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained Monday night, per the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Ben Goessling. The off-ball linebacker left Monday’s game in the third quarter.
Caleb Williams‘ 13-yard scramble included Cashman pulling up while giving chase. An Eden Prairie, Minn., native who played at the University of Minnesota, Cashman had been mostly a special-teamer until being called upon for regular defensive duty with the Texans in 2023. That garnered Cashman a nice FA market, and he signed a three-year, $22.5MM deal. The Broncos, Falcons, Packers and Steelers also showed interest last year.
Last season, Cashman started all 14 Vikings games he played. Working as a key part of Brian Flores‘ complex defense, Cashman established new career-high marks in tackles (112), tackles for loss (eight), QB hits (11) and sacks (4.5). Cashman also notched eight passes defensed, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 22 overall ILB. The 29-year-old defender did miss time with turf toe, however, and he will almost definitely be down for the foreseeable future due to this hamstring malady.
Minnesota plugged veteran Eric Wilson into Cashman’s spot on defense, and while the team rallied back from a two-score deficit to score a Week 1 win in Chicago, Cashman’s absence will sting. The Vikings have sixth-round rookie Kobe King and rookie UDFA Austin Keys behind Wilson at ILB. Wilson, 30 this month, is a 39-game starter. Beginning his career with the Vikings under Mike Zimmer, Wilson has bounced around since. He spent the past three seasons in Green Bay, making 12 starts for last year’s Packers edition.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: LB Carl Jones, DL Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Waived from IR: C Doug Kramer
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
Denver Broncos
- Waived from IR: DT Kristian Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Tim Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: DE Fadil Diggs
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tyler Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed from practice squad: LB Patrick Johnson
Free Agency
- Suspended: DB Kemon Hall
Cowboys defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey will now be out through the month of September after landing on IR today. Winfrey has been dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss the season opener. The 25-year-old joined the Cowboys back in June following a successful showing in the UFL.
Free agent defensive back Kemon Hall has been hit with a three-game ban, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby. The suspension would go into effect once the player joins a team. The 2019 UDFA most recently spent the preseason with the Cowboys. He was among the team’s final cuts and subsequently landed on their practice squad, but he was released days later. The 28-year-old has appeared in 24 career games.
Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw Uncertain To Play In Week 1
The Vikings will be without safety Harrison Smith during tonight’s game against the Bears. Minnesota’s offensive line could also be shorthanded during the team’s season opener. 
Christian Darrisaw missed most of the 2024 campaign due to ACL and MCL tears. The standout left tackle has spent the offseason rehabbing his knee, and he managed to return to practice in June. At that point, however, Darrisaw had yet to receive full medical clearance.
The 26-year-old continued to make progress through the summer, and he was listed as a full participant in practice for the past two days. In spite of that, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes Darrisaw is not a lock to suit up tonight (video link). A cautious approach would come as little surprise given the 26-year-old’s importance to Minnesota’s offense.
Darrisaw inked a $26MM-per-year extension last summer, and he is under contract through 2029 as a result. The Vikings’ offensive line will depend on him this season and well beyond that point, so making sure he is back to full strength before playing him would be an understandable approach. Should Darrisaw sit out tonight (or any further games early in the year), though, the Vikings will be notably shorthanded on the blindside.
One of Minnesota’s top priorities this offseason was improving along the offensive line. Ex-Colts Will Fries and Ryan Kelly were added at guard and center, respectively. They will be joined by veteran right tackle Brian O’Neill and first-round rookie Donovan Jackson as starters. It will be interesting to see if Darrisaw is present as well for quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s regular season debut.