Urgent: Vikings Urged to Sign Super Bowl RB to Replace Injured Mattison
Alexander Mattison, a running back for the Vikings, leaves the field following an injury sustained during a Week 14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
With an ankle injury in the third quarter of the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 14 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, starting wide receiver Alexander Mattison was forced to leave the game, causing a major blow for the running back room.
Mattison was efficiently moving the ball when he injured his right ankle on Sunday, December 10, after racking up 10 carries for 66 yards. Ty Chandler took over as the starting quarterback, but he was unable to find the same space to run; on 12 carries, he gained 35 yards. Without Mattison, the Vikings lack experience as Chandler and Kene Nwangwu combined for just six carries in their careers prior to 2023.
As the season approaches a pivotal phase, Minnesota requires additional experience in the running back room in case Mattison loses any time. Thankfully, the Vikings should look at a senior free agent who has a ton of experience, particularly in the postseason.
Darrel Williams, a former running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, is likely available on a veteran minimum contract. He has roughly 300 carries, a 1,000-yard season, and seven career postseason appearances.
Vikings May Benefit from Darrel Williams’ Super Bowl Experience
Williams, an undrafted rookie in 2018, developed into a reliable short-yardage runner and receiving threat in the Chiefs backfield. His two 1-yard touchdowns in 2019 demonstrated his strength and muscular running style against the Detroit Lions..
While Williams was on injured reserve during the 2019 season, the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl; still, he was a key player in their 2020 championship game return.
In the divisional round, Williams was given the go-ahead to start against the Cleveland Browns. In a 22-17 victory, he ran for 78 yards on 13 rushes and caught all four of his targets for 16 yards receiving. In the AFC Championship game, he added 53 running yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against the Buffalo Bills. Williams participated in the Super Bowl, but as the Chiefs fell behind early in a 31-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he vanished from the game plan.
It was a wise decision for Kansas City to sign Williams to a one-year deal in 2021. In 17 games, seven starts, he passed 1,000 all-purpose yards by rushing for a career-high 558 rushing yards and six touchdowns and receiving 47 catches for 452 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Williams then agreed to a one-year deal with the Cardinals in Arizona. Williams, James Conner’s main backup, averaged 4.9 yards per carry in 2022 on 21 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. He missed the last nine games for the team due to a hip ailment.
As a free agent at this point in the season, Williams, at age 28, still has some tread left on his tires. Although he won’t pose a significant threat in the running game, he might be a good fit for Mattison’s offensive style.
The Vikings’ running game is being impacted by offensive line injuries.
Three of the starting offensive linemen were missing at one point in the victory over the Raiders on Sunday.
Right tackle Brian O’Neill left the game due to an ankle sprain, and right guard Ed Ingram was sidelined due to a hip ailment. Dalton Risner, the guard, also took a few plays off the field before coming back into play.
O’Neill was observed wearing a walking boot as he left Allegiant Stadium, which is concerning for the offensive line as a whole.
In O’Neill’s place, David Quessenberry will probably be used more frequently this season if O’Neill is out more frequently.
