Vikings Add Veteran RB to Replace Injured Alexander Mattison

The Minnesota Vikings will be without starting running back Alexander Mattison in Week 15 due to an ankle injury, prompting the team to elevate veteran Myles Gaskin to the 53-man roster.

The Vikings announced the move on Friday, December 15, a day before their road matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Minnesota also activated wide receiver Trishton Jackson from the team’s practice squad with Jalen Nailor still in concussion protocol and unavailable for Saturday’s matinee.

Courtesy of VikingsMyles Gaskin of the Minnesota Vikings

A 2019 seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, Gaskin played four seasons in Miami, racking up 1,355 rushing yards in 38 games and 17 starts. He was the Dolphins’ leading ballcarrier in 2022, tallying 612 rushing yards and three touchdowns while adding 234 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Despite being on the practice squad, Gaskin could see a significant workload. Kevin O’Connell gave Nick Mullens the start and will have a similar, pass-heavy game plan that he would run with Kirk Cousins.

Pass protection will be tantamount to the offense’s success, especially with left tackle Brian O’Neill out this week with an ankle injury.

Minnesota has shown a lack of trust in Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu‘s ability to pass protect, which happens to be one of Gaskins’ strengths.

In 2020, Gaskins posted the highest pass-block efficiency rate among running backs who took 60 or more snaps in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just two hurries on 71 snaps.

Gaskin was trusted to pass block during his years with the Dolphins, which could land him significant playing time on Saturday, especially with Chandler’s struggles in pass protection.

Across 21 pass-blocking snaps this season, Chandler has allowed two hurries, two hits and a sack. One of those hits spiraled into a worst-case scenario, where Josh Dobbs was hit while throwing against the Denver Broncos, who intercepted the ball and went on to take the lead in the fourth quarter of a 21-20 loss.

All of the talk of pass protection isn’t meant to remove Chandler from the game plan. He’s still the most explosive running back in Minnesota, but it’s important to consider the offensive scheme benefits more from a back like Gaskin.