Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Won't make NFL debut Week 1
Rotowire
Claiborne (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Packers, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.
Claiborne, a sixth-round selection of the Vikings in the 2026 NFL Draft, will have to wait until Week 2 against the Bears on Sunday, Sept. 20, to make his regular-season debut. With Claiborne inactive for Week 1, DeeJay Dallas will serve as the Vikings' RB3 behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
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Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Does little with eight carries
Rotowire
Claiborne rushed eight times for 21 yards in the Vikings' 34-6 preseason loss to the Broncos on Friday. He also returned two kickoffs for 55 yards.
The rookie sixth-round pick drew the start and carried the ball on the Vikings' first two plays from scrimmage. Claiborne was given ample opportunity this preseason, rushing 28 times for 73 yards and adding a seven-yard reception on his only target. While Claiborne found running room at a premium, he did average 25.2 yards on his five kickoff returns, and special teams may be his ticket to a spot on the initial 53-man roster.
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Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Bottled up in preseason loss
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Claiborne turned eight carries into 18 yards and caught his lone target for seven yards during the Vikings' 13-3 loss to the Ravens on Saturday. He also returned one kickoff for 21 yards.
The rookie sixth-rounder was listed as the starter while veterans Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason observed Saturday's game from the sidelines. Claiborne's longest carry of the night went for nine yards, but he combined for only nine yards over his other seven rushes. Through two preseason games, the Wake Forest product has turned 20 carries into 52 yards (2.6 YPC) while adding 71 yards on three kickoff returns. Jones and Mason both figure to see the bulk of the Vikings' workload out of the backfield this season, so most of Claiborne's playing time may come on special teams as a returner on kickoffs.
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Vikings' Demond Claiborne: Scooped by Vikings
Rotowire
The Vikings selected Claiborne in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 198th overall.
Claiborne brings a dynamic skillset to Minnesota after four years at Wake Forest -- two as a starter. The 22-year-old is a patient runner with the speed (4.37 40-yard dash) to break open a play when he sees daylight. At 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, he doesn't project as a consistent threat between the tackles, but there's clear upside if the Vikings can get him into space. Over his final two seasons, Claiborne rushed 407 times for 1,956 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 51 receptions for 194 yards and two scores. Claiborne could earn his keep in a third-down role if he can tidy up his pass blocking, but it's a crowded room for now with 31-year-old Aaron Jones leading the way ahead of Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott.
