Vikings' Jordan Mason: Should get goal-line chances
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Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell expects Mason (ankle) to "bring something to the table" in goal-line and short-yardage situations, ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reports.
O'Connell also discussed returning starter Aaron Jones, saying "when [Jones] has... that 1A/1B backfield structure, he can be a total game-changer every time he touches the ball." In other words, O'Connell hopes the 223-pound Mason can be 1B, taking carries between the tackles while Jones gets most of the work in space. The Vikings traded for Mason in mid-March, shortly after San Francisco gave him a second-round restricted free agent tender (and after Minnesota re-signed Jones on a two-year, $20 million contract). Mason missed the final five weeks of his 2024 breakout season with a high-ankle injury, but there hasn't been any report of surgery or a prolonged rehab process this offseason.
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Vikings' Jordan Mason: Traded to Minnesota
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The 49ers traded Mason (ankle) to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The 49ers placed a second-round tender worth $5.3 million on Mason when free agency began, but he'll now be shipped out along with the No. 187 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for the No. 160 pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick, per David Lombardi of SFStandard.com. Mason will receive a two-year contract with the Vikings that's worth up to $12 million and includes $7 million guaranteed. Mason served as the 49ers' starting running back for the first half of the 2024 regular season due to Christian McCaffrey being sidelined with Achilles injuries. Through the first eight games of the regular season, Mason rushed for 685 yards and three touchdowns on 134 carries while adding 10 catches (on 12 targets) for 86 yards, though he missed the final five games due to a high-ankle sprain. Ty Chandler was slated to be the Vikings' backup running back, but Mason's addition is an upgrade to the backfield led by Aaron Jones, who agreed to a two-year contract with Minneosta on March 9.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Gets second-round tender
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The 49ers are giving Mason (ankle) a second-round restricted free agent tender, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It's a bit surprising to see Mason get a tender for over $5 million after his hot start to 2024 tailed off. The 49ers were in a tough spot, as an original-round tender would've cost about $2 million less but wouldn't have provided any draft compensation if they declined to match an offer sheet from another team, as the running back was undrafted originally. In any case, the 49ers don't necessarily have to keep Mason on the tender; they can use it as a bridge to a multi-year contract or a trade. If he does stay in San Francisco, he'll likely be the No. 2 running back behind Christian McCaffrey, although Isaac Guerendo is capable of pushing for the role. Mason missed the final five weeks of the 2024 season with a high-ankle sprain, but there hasn't been any report of surgery or a prolonged recovery/rehab process.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Drawing trade interest
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Mason (ankle) is drawing trade interest, David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard reports.
Mason is set to hit restricted free agency this offseason, so the 49ers have contractual control over the running back for at least one more season. Lombardi believes San Francisco could tender Mason and then entertain trading him. With Christian McCaffrey battling an Achilles issue much of the year, Mason had a breakout 2024 season, rushing 153 times for 789 yards (5.2 YPC) and three touchdowns. He missed the final five games of the season with an ankle injury, and the 49ers have Isaac Guerendo as a younger and cheaper backup option behind McCaffrey.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Now officially on IR
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Mason (ankle) was officially placed on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It was announced earlier in the week Mason would be placed on injured reserve, but the team waited to officially make that move until the end of the week. Isaac Guerendo will get the first crack at filling in for both Mason and Christian McCaffrey (knee), who was also placed on injured reserve following his Week 13 injury, but pass-catching specialist Patrick Taylor also figures to have some role too. San Francisco plucked a couple of known names to at minimum operate as depth given the myriad of injuries to its running backs, with Israel Abanikanda and practice-squad callup Ke'Shawn Vaughn joining the team earlier this week.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Out for Week 14, still not on IR
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Mason (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears.
In the wake of the 49ers' Week 13 loss at Buffalo, the 49ers lost their top two running backs for the foreseeable future: Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury in his right knee and was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, while Mason was expected to join him on IR due to a high-ankle sprain. The transaction for Mason has yet to be made but likely will happen by Saturday afternoon. With both players out Sunday, Isaac Guerendo is in line to lead San Francisco's backfield, while Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda and practice-squad member Ke'Shawn Vaughn are the candidates to fill in behind him.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: DNP on Wednesday, IR still likely
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Mason (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan previously said Monday that Mason is headed to injured reserve due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered late in Sunday's 35-10 loss to the Bills. While the transaction has yet to be made, Shanahan reiterated Wednesday that a trip to IR is still likely for Mason, according to David Lombardi of SFStandard.com. The 49ers are set to move forward with a backfield led by rookie Isaac Guerendo, with waiver pickup Israel Abanikanda offering a depth option behind him. The 49ers are also likely to elevate one or both of Patrick Taylor and Ke'Shawn Vaughn from the practice squad ahead of this Sunday's game against the Bears.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Headed for IR with sprained ankle
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The 49ers are expected to place Mason on injured reserve this week after he suffered a high-ankle sprain late in Sunday's 35-10 loss to the Bills, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
After Christian McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury to his right knee in the first half, Mason took on a larger offensive role versus Buffalo, finishing with 13 carries for 78 yards. Though he would have been in position to lead the San Francisco backfield for the rest of the season with McCaffrey's injury expected to require a six-week recovery, Mason is instead on track to join McCaffrey and IR and won't be eligible for activation until Week 18. With Mason and McCaffrey set to miss time, rookie Isaac Guerendo is now in line to take over as the 49ers' lead back beginning with this Sunday's game against the Bears. Patrick Taylor likely will be promoted from the practice squad to serve as the Niners' backup running back over the next month.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Takes over for injured starter
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Mason took 13 carries for 78 yards and received no targets in Sunday's 35-10 loss to Buffalo.
Mason saw a spike in carries in Sunday's blowout loss after starter Christian McCaffrey (knee) limped off the field at halftime and did not return. The capable backup looked the part in a run-heavy game plan dictated by snowy conditions. McCaffrey's status will be clarified as the practice week progresses, but savvy fantasy managers should already be putting claims in for Mason after the work he put in as fill-in starter earlier this year. It is worth mentioning that Mason also left Sunday's contest to be evaluated for a concussion, but he was subsequently cleared and finished without issue, according to 49ers team reporter Lindsey Lares.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Receives four touches Sunday
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Mason rushed three times for eight yards with one reception (two targets) for five yards in Sunday's 38-10 loss to Green Bay.
Mason wound up logging nine snaps on offense (18 percent) in order to earn his four combined touches Sunday. San Francisco's backup has received just six carries over the three games that starter Christian McCaffrey has been active for. With such little usage, Mason remains a non-factor in fantasy ahead of next Sunday's tilt at Buffalo.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: One carry with CMC back
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Mason (shoulder) had one carry for five yards in Sunday's 23-20 win over the Buccaneers.
Mason was able to recover from a shoulder injury over San Francisco's bye week in order to suit up against Tampa Bay. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, the first-half star was relegated to his usual backup role with Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) making his season debut off of injured reserve. This resulted in Mason assuming his regular low-usage role Sunday, a trend that should continue now that McCaffrey is back atop the depth chart. Mason can safely be dropped in standard formats as we look towards Week 11.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Sleeper RBs
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Mason is worth using as a flex in Week 10 at Tampa Bay, even with Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) expected to play. McCaffrey might have a limited workload in his 2024 debut, which could mean 10-15 total touches for Mason. And it's a good matchup since the Buccaneers have allowed six running backs to score at least 13.5 PPR points against them in the past four games.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Cleared to face Tampa Bay
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Mason (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Coming out of a bye week, Mason was a full practice participant Wednesday and Friday, sandwiched around a limited session Thursday. His time as a prime fantasy asset nonetheless seems to be nearing an end, with coach Kyle Shanahan saying Friday that only an unexpected late setback would prevent running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) from playing this Sunday. Mason may still get some snaps and touches but won't dominate carries the way he did for much of the past two months.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Hurts shoulder on SNF
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Mason (shoulder) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Cowboys.
Mason stayed down after a first-quarter run, checked back into the game but subsequently went to the locker room after rushing six times for 18 yards. He had been playing through an AC joint sprain in his shoulder that he suffered in Week 6 against the Seahawks, so this is presumably an aggravation of that injury. Isaac Guerendo will lead San Francisco's backfield if Mason's unable to return Sunday.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: No injury designation
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Mason (shoulder) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Mason will return to his lead role in the San Francisco backfield after an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder kept him off the field for all but one snap during the second half of last Thursday's win at Seattle. He's been practicing all week, albeit in a a non-contact jersey. That does hint at some risk of complications in-game, but the upside generally outweighs the downside risk when dealing with a player that's provided such strong production. Meanwhile, fellow 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) has yet to resume practicing.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Still using non-contact jersey
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Mason (shoulder) is practicing in a non-contact jersey Friday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
It's about the best fantasy managers could hope for, eight days after Mason suffered an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder during last Thursday's 36-24 win over the Seahawks. Isaac Guerendo and Patrick Taylor split playing time with Mason getting just one snap after halftime, and one of the possibilities for the upcoming game against Kansas City is Mason being active but taking fewer touches than usual. Mason was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday and now appears likely to be listed as questionable on the final injury report.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: AC joint sprain confirmed
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Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Friday that Mason suffered an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder during Thursday's 36-24 win at Seattle and is considered day-to-day, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mason exited in the second quarter Thursday after landing on his left shoulder at the end of a carry and clearly favoring it as he went to the 49ers' sideline. While he was deemed questionable to return, he logged one play after halftime before departing the game for good. The 49ers never gave Mason a designation after that, and he was seen on the sideline wearing his helmet the rest of the second half, but Isaac Guerendo handled most of the RB reps for San Francisco down the stretch. The 49ers don't play again until Sunday, Oct. 20 against the Chiefs, so Mason will have extended time to try to get healthy ahead of that contest.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Returns to action
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Mason (shoulder) returned to the field to begin the second half of Thursday's game against Seattle, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mason was forced to the locker room midway through the second quarter with a shoulder injury. He didn't return to the field before halftime but logged the 49ers' first carry of the second half.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Suffers shoulder injury
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Mason is questionable to return to Thursday's game against the Seahawks due to a shoulder injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mason walked off the field with trainers after a 14-yard run midway through the second quarter. The severity of the issue isn't clear, but Isaac Guerendo will take over as the 49ers' lead back while Mason is sidelined. After being evaluated in the locker room, Mason was spotted on the sideline with his helmet, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
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49ers' Jordan Mason: Loses first fumble of career
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Mason rushed 14 times for 89 yards and caught his lone target of nine yards while coughing up a fumble in Sunday's 24-23 loss to Arizona.
Mason lost a fumble on his final touch in the fourth quarter of Sunday's narrow loss. The rare folly cost San Francisco dearly in the defeat, but it was also the third-year back's first lost fumble of his career. Mason still produced well on a per-touch basis and remains the unquestioned starter until Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) returns from injury. A road tilt against the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football is on tap for Mason and the 49ers in Week 6.
