You’d be hard-pressed to find an NFL running back room as underwhelming as the Minnesota Vikings’ since Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022.
Throughout O’Connell’s tenure as head coach, Minnesota has struggled to establish the ground game. The hope heading into this season was that they would have fixed it. Adding firepower to the offensive line and trading for a young back to complement Aaron Jones were supposed to help the Vikings become a ground-and-pound attack.
Instead, injuries and ineffectiveness have caused them to revert to their old ways. Starting RB Jones got hurt in Week 2, and the Vikings have felt his absence in the passing game as well. The hope was that he’d be back for Minnesota’s Week 8 Thursday night contest against the Los Angeles Chargers, but there have been few updates since he sustained his hamstring injury that put him on IR.
If there’s anyone who can replace Jones during his extended absence and inject some life into the RB room, it’s Zavier Scott.
Scott played a minor role in Minnesota’s blowout win against the Cincinnati Bengals, rushing eight times for 30 yards and catching a 20-yard pass. But Minnesota needed Scott in a contested game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he delivered with six catches on eight targets for 43 yards and a touchdown.
The expectation was that the Vikings would need Scott more in the receiving game against the Cleveland Browns, because their stout defensive front is known for stopping the run. Instead, Scott took a step back, still acting as the backup but ceding his usual receptions to Jordan Mason.
Mason didn’t do much with those receptions, catching three for just four yards. Instead, Scott got more work on the ground. He had five carries for 18 yards, but it’s hard not to imagine the success he could’ve had if the Vikings had given him more opportunities through the air. (It doesn’t help that he lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.)
In any case, Scott’s ability to catch out of the backfield will be helpful for whichever quarterback leads the Vikings ‘ offense. Scott played both running back and wide receiver in college, so he has the inherent abilities that make him a worthy back in passing situations. He’s 6’1”, 219 lbs., and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at Europe’s top prospect workout, making him one of Minnesota’s biggest and fastest running backs.
Scott’s story is straight out of a movie. His dad was in the Army, so he moved around a lot as a child. That included a stint in Germany, where he attended high school and traveled across Europe to play football against students on other American military bases.
The experience overseas led him to the University of Connecticut. He played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2018, seeing action at both rusher and receiver. Scott amassed 34 carries and 33 catches for 438 total yards and a touchdown. His 33 receptions were second on the team. However, he entered the transfer portal after appearing in only four games as a redshirt sophomore.
Scott transferred to FCS Maine, which was the only team to offer him a full scholarship. He came in listed as a wide receiver but ended up being a Swiss Army knife, taking snaps in the backfield, at tight end, and even as quarterback in wildcat formations. He finished his senior year as the team’s leader in yards per rush (9.3), receptions (42), and receiving yards (438).
After going undrafted in 2023, the Indianapolis Colts signed Scott to their practice squad a month into the season. The following year, the Vikings scooped him up, and he spent the year on their practice squad before signing a reserve/future contract following the 2024 season. Scott impressed in his short time this preseason, racking up 51 yards on eight touches against the Texans and 72 yards on 13 touches against the New England Patriots.
That was enough to earn him a spot on the 53-man roster. After the injuries Jones and Ty Chandler suffered, Scott has an opportunity to cement his place in Minnesota’s running back room. The versatility he brings makes him valuable, and his upbringing, which involves adapting to new environments, makes him coachable.
Jones signed a two-year extension with the Vikings this offseason, and he’ll be 32 when it ends. Scott is younger, bigger, and faster than Jones, making him the perfect candidate to take over whenever his time in Minnesota ends.
