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Vikings running back Alexander Mattison during a Week 11 matchup with the Broncos in 2023.
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison‘s career is in question after a devastating neck injury sent him to the hospital on Sunday.
A member of the Miami Dolphins, Mattison was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and had season-ending neck surgery after hurting his neck in a game against the Chicago Bears on August 10, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Dolphins running back Alexander Mattison underwent season-ending neck surgery Sunday in Chicago, per sources. Mattison hurt his neck during Sunday’s game vs. the Bears, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and had surgery. pic.twitter.com/uYM95c6WXz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 11, 2025
While ESPN reported that Mattison is expected to make a full recovery, whether he will be capable of continuing his football career or the risk of reaggravation will be too high remains to be seen from his recovery.
Dr. Jesse Morse, M.D., replied to Schefter’s report, saying that Mattison is facing a potential “career-ending” injury.
“Likely an acute fracture or severely herniated disk,” Morse wrote. “Wish him the best of luck, hopefully no long term issues/complications. There is a chance this is career-ending.”
Mattison, 27, spent five seasons with the Vikings as a 2019 third-round pick. As the primary backup to Dalvin Cook, Mattison and Cook were inseparable during practice and were key contributors to the Vikings offense under Mike Zimmer. Mattison signed with the Las Vegas Raiders last season, playing in 14 games and making seven starts before joining the Dolphins.
Mattison was officially moved to injured reserve on August 12, while the Dolphins signed another former Vikings running back, Mike Boone, in his place.
Alexander Mattison Was Shining at Dolphins Training Camp
At 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, Mattison entered a Dolphins running back room that features speedster De’Von Achane, leading many to believe he would come on as a short-yardage thumper.
Mattison was showing he could do much more than that.
He was a standout during Dolphins training camp, moving the chains and also gaining the tough yards and was making a case for more work.
“Seeing as every run that he’s had in camp, you can hear me yelling, ‘Wait, this isn’t short-yardage,'” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, per ESPN. “I think ‘Mad Dog’ [Mattison] himself is a great example of ‘No, here we allow your play to tell us who you are and how you adjust to coaching and how willing you are to invest in your game and your team.’ ”
Another Former Vikings RB Suffers Season-Ending Rib Injury
Courtesy of VikingsFormer Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah
Mattison isn’t the only former Vikings running back on the mend for the 2025 season.
Just 11 days after signing with the San Francisco 49ers, Ameer Abdullah has landed on the season-ending injured reserve list.
Abdullah took a carry up the middle in the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Denver Broncos and took a huge hit, resulting in a fumble and Abdullah holding his ribs.
He left the field on his own accord, but he was shut down with his placement on the list.
A former second-round pick by the Detroit Lions, Abdullah spent three full seasons with the Lions before he was waived midseason and claimed by the Vikings in 2018. He played two full seasons for the purple and gold before landing in Las Vegas.
Abdullah and Mattison were part of the same Raiders backfield for the 2024 season.
Trevor Squire is a sports journalist covering the NFL and NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks. Trevor studied journalism at the University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, making stops at the Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @trevordsquire. More about Trevor Squire
