Ty Chandler Faces a Pivotal 2024 Despite New Running Back in Town
The Vikings signed free-agent runningback Aaron Jones quite immediately after the Green Bay Packers signed Josh Jacobs and kicked Jones to the curb, much to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s delight.
Green Bay approached Jones about taking a pay-cut for 2024 which would’ve equaled about half of what his scheduled earnings were, to which he understandably declined. Now, he joins Ty Chandler in a Minnesota backfield that was eager to use the help.
Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler Become A One-Two Punch
Jones will join forces with third-year running back Chandler, who took on more and more of a workload as 2023 raged on and the extension of then-RB1 Alexander Mattison looked like a move that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company wished they could take back, as well as Cam Akers blowing out Achilles in the same game that Kirk Cousins did at Lambeau Field.
With the opportunities he was presented, Chandler impressed. He ran the ball 102 times and gained 461 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. That averaged was T-14th in the in the NFL in 2023, where Chandler tied with other impressive backs by the names of Tyjae Spears, Bijan Robinson, Breece Hall, and D’Andre Swift.
While Jones will obviously be the go-to guy in 2024 for a Vikings offense desperately needing an injection of life into its running game, the reality is that he will more than likely only be here for the year.
Jones will be 30 years old this December, well past the usual beginning of the decline of players at the position.
Chandler’s Outlook in the Post-Jones Era
Assuming the Vikings won’t re-up Jones’ one-year agreement come 2025, Minnesota will have to look elsewhere for their starting runningback come opening day 2025, and Chandler can make his case to be that top runningback option depending on how he fulfills his role as the second option this season behind Jones.
Jones wasn’t brought in to be the workhorse back, he was brought in to be the lead back in a stable of talented runners that the Vikings have very high hopes for. So while it Jones will be getting a healthy chunk of the snaps, there is going to be plenty of opportunity for Chandler, as well as a running back like Cam Akers if the Vikings were to bring him back. Akers only gets the mention since he uploaded a video of his rehabilitation training at a known facility near TCO.
Will Chandler Cash in on His Opportunities?
While Chandler may not be the feature back for the Vikings in 2024, there will still be plenty of opportunity for him to seize a larger role in the coming years for Minnesota, or even potentially another team when his current deal expires. While Minnesota surely holds high hopes for them, their signing of Aaron Jones is a clear indicator that they don’t think Chandler is up for the responsibilities that the feature runningback comes with.
Either way, 2024 will be very telling for Chandler, and whether or not he will grab the opportunity to be the Minnesota Vikings’ main back in the future by the horns.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
The Vikings are Digesting League-Leading Dead Money