Mattison had two carries for minus-1 yard during Sunday's 30-24 defeat to the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

In a game in which the Vikings were in catch-up mode from the outset, the offense led by quarterback Nick Mullens leaned toward the air and not the ground, resulting in 36 pass attempts and just 11 rushes. Fellow running back Ty Chandler handled eight of those carries, and the only member of the backfield to receive a target was FB C.J. Ham, despite WR Jordan Addison (ankle) and TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) leaving the contest with injuries. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, there was an expectation that Mattison would be the second RB behind Chandler in the former's return from a one-game absence due to a sprained right ankle, and Mattison's upcoming activity level during Week 17 prep may give a sense of how much work he'll be able to handle Sunday, Dec. 31 against the Packers.

Mattison (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

Coming off his first absence of the season in the Vikings' Week 15 overtime loss to the Bengals, Mattison turned in just one limited practice this week, but the coaching and training staffs apparently came away encouraged enough with his health to give him the green light to play Saturday. However, Mattison likely isn't close to 100 percent healthy and could be in store for a smaller role than usual out of the backfield, as Ty Chandler is expected to serve as the team's lead back, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Head coach Kevin O'Connell hasn't outlined his plans for the backfield beyond Week 16, though he suggested earlier in the week that Chandler could have an opportunity to stake his claim to the No. 1 role beyond Sunday's game. Chandler broke out for the best performance by a Minnesota running back all season in last week's loss to Cincinnati, finishing with 132 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries to go with three catches for 25 yards on four targets. Mattison, meanwhile, is averaging a middling 3.9 yards per carry and hasn't found the end zone on 168 carries through 13 appearances.

Mattison (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, is expected to play, but he may be less than 100 percent healthy, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

After sitting out the Vikings' 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals in Week 15 due to a sprained right ankle, Mattison has put himself in position to play Sunday after he was able to return to practice Friday as a limited participant. When active this season, Mattison has typically paced the Vikings in snaps and touches out of the backfield, but Pelissero suggests that the 25-year-old will likely find himself in a supporting role Sunday while Ty Chandler gets another chance to lead the backfield after producing 157 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 26 touches in Week 15. Head coach Kevin O'Connell intimated earlier in the week that Chandler had likely earned himself another opportunity as the lead back, and O'Connell even seemed to leave the door open for Chandler sticking atop the depth chart once Mattison is closer to 100 percent healthy. How both Chandler and Mattison perform Sunday could have significant sway in how the running-back depth chart shakes out for Weeks 17 and 18.

Mattison (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions.

EDGE Analysis

After missing the Vikings' 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals last weekend and then sitting out the team's first two practices of Week 16, Mattison returned to practice Friday. The running back appears to have demonstrated enough progress in his recovery from a right knee sprain to at least put himself in consideration to play Sunday, but final word on his status won't arrive until Minnesota releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the game's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Even if Mattison gets clearance to play, he'll likely be filling a supporting role behind Ty Chandler, who broke out for 23 carries for 132 yards and a touchdown to go with three catches for 25 yards while serving as Minnesota's lead back last week. According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, head coach Kevin O'Connell hinted earlier this week that Chandler could remain in a featured role moving forward on the heels of his big game, especially after Mattison had lost two fumbles and was limited to 3.9 yards per carry and no touchdowns on 168 totes through his first 13 appearances of the season.

Mattison (ankle) returned to practice Friday, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's his first participation of any kind since spraining an ankle during a 3-0 win over the Raiders in Week 14. Ty Chandler then took 81 percent of Minnesota's snaps on offense en route to 157 total yards in an overtime loss to the Bengals in Week 15, so he may remain the lead back even if Mattison is active for Sunday's game against Detroit.

Mattison (ankle) didn't practice Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Mattison looks to be trending toward missing a second straight game this weekend against the Lions, as he hasn't been able to practice in any capacity since sustaining a right ankle sprain in the Vikings' 3-0 win over the Raiders in Week 14. Ty Chandler looks poised to serve as Minnesota's lead back Sunday, and head coach Kevin O'Connell alluded Wednesday to the possibility of the second-year player remaining atop the depth chart even Mattison has fully moved past the ankle injury, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Mattison has mustered just 3.9 yards per carry and zero touchdowns on the ground in addition to losing two fumbles over his 13 appearances in 2023, while Chandler came through with the best performance by any Vikings running back this season in this past Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals. Chandler carried 23 times for 132 yards and a touchdown and added three catches for 25 yards on four targets in the loss, and the Vikings could look to reward him for his efforts.

Mattison (ankle) was held out of practice Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Mattison hasn't practiced since spraining his right ankle in the middle of the Vikings' 3-0 win in Las Vegas in Week 14, which sidelined him for this past Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss in Cincinnati. Head coach Kevin O'Connell told Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com on Wednesday that he hasn't ruled Mattison out for Sunday's game versus the Lions, but Minnesota likely will lean more on Ty Chandler at running back, even if the former is available. Mattison's listing on the team's last two Week 16 injury reports could reveal whether he has a chance to play this weekend.

Mattison (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field during the portion of Wednesday's walkthrough open to the media, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mattison sprained his right ankle during the Vikings' Week 14 win at Las Vegas, and while the severity of the injury hasn't been revealed, he hasn't been able to practice in the interim and missed this past Saturday's overtime loss in Cincinnati. On Wednesday, head coach Kevin O'Connell told Seifert that he wouldn't rule out Mattison for Sunday's game against the Lions, but O'Connell also implied Ty Chandler likely will be Minnesota's main running back in that contest. Mattison's activity level to begin Week 16 prep will be revealed later Wednesday.

Mattison (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game in Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

Mattison sustained a sprained right ankle on the Vikings' first offensive play of the second half this past Sunday in Las Vegas. The severity of the issue hasn't been revealed, but he was unable to practice this week and thus will miss his first game of the season. Mattison will yield Minnesota's backfield to Ty Chandler in Week 15 and potentially beyond that point.

Mattison (ankle) isn't practicing Wednesday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Ty Chandler took 79 percent of Minnesota's offensive snaps in the second half of Sunday's 3-0 win over the Raiders, stepping in as the lead back after Mattison left early with a right ankle sprain. The Vikings listed Mattison as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice estimate and now are holding him out of an actual practice, making him uncertain to play this Saturday against the Bengals. Kene Nwangwu is the third running back on Minnesota's active roster, but he's mostly been used on special teams throughout his career, so Myles Gaskin or DeWayne McBride may be elevated from the practice squad for the No. 2 role if Mattison doesn't end up playing Saturday.