Looks Like the Vikings Could Get a Forgotten Playmaker Back
Entering the season, a look at the Minnesota Vikings roster allowed fans to dream of a playoff run. The squad is stacked — at least on paper — at most positions. Even the depth looked much superior compared to previous years. Fast forward 12 games, and the Vikings haven’t nearly lived up to those expectations.
Looks Like the Vikings Could Get a Forgotten Playmaker Back
While the defense has remained respectable, the offense has been a total failure. Kevin O’Connell’s unit is one of the least explosive ones in the NFL, and it’s not too early to ask fundamental questions about the players and the coaches alike.
One annoying element is that O’Connell just doesn’t stick with the running game, regardless of how bad the quarterback play is. Despite the investments, he’d rather fail with a million dropbacks (and interceptions) than give the backs more touches.
In the offseason, the Vikings re-signed Aaron Jones and then traded for Jordan Mason to form a more dynamic duo. Well, it hasn’t helped much. The RB3 all season has been Zavier Scott. Depth player and special teamer Ty Chandler missed most of it on IR with a knee injury, but his return appears to be on the horizon.
Head coach O’Connell announced on Wednesday that he’s ready to return to practice. His 21-day window has been opened. The Vikings can now activate him to the 53-man roster at any point.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters wrote on the team’s website, “The Vikings on Wednesday designated running back Ty Chandler to return from Injured Reserve. Chandler has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in Minnesota’s Week 1 win at Chicago. He battled through to finish the game, returning a late kickoff to get the clock inside the 2-minute warning.”
A 2022 draftee, Chandler was part of that cursed draft class. Only he and wideout Jalen Nailor remain from the group, and they are both in a good spot to fulfill their four-year rookie contracts.
Chandler missed most of his rookie campaign with a thumb injury. Even if healthy, with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison available all year, it would’ve been hard for him to earn some reps. When Cook departed in the following offseason, Mattison was installed as the new RB1, and Chandler was promoted to his primary backup.
He finally entered the starting lineup late in the season when Mattison missed a game. Chandler provided some spark, but it didn’t last long. Ultimately, Chandler was replaced by Cam Akers in 2023 and 2024, and his depth-chart tumble in 2025 robbed him of the chance to make some noise in his fourth season.
Chandler has competed in 38 games with the Vikings. He rushed for 663 yards and has three touchdowns, while adding another 201 receiving yards.
The former fifth-rounder was also the top kick returner for parts of the 2023 season and the entire 2024 campaign. He has 15 returns for 386 yards on his resume at a time when most coaches would just take touchbacks.
In Week 1 of this season — his only appearance this season — Chandler returned three kicks, including one in the clutch when he checked with O’Connell to get instructions given the time-sensitive element of the play.
It remains to be seen if he can return in time for Week 14. Starter Jones has been dealing with shoulder problems for a couple of weeks, and there might be some carries available for Scott or Chandler if he’s set to miss a game.
Chandler, 27, could be back soon for what could be the last few games of his Vikings career.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.