By Craig Peters
The Vikings have officially parted ways with running back Alexander Mattison, the team announced Monday.
Mattison's release means he is eligible to sign with another team before free agency opens on March 13 or any time thereafter.
He just completed his fifth season with the Vikings and first as the team's starter at running back. Mattison started 13 of 16 games played in 2023, recording 700 yards on 180 rush attempts (3.9 yards per carry) but did not score a rushing touchdown. He added 30 receptions for 192 yards and three scores on a career-high 44-targets.
A third-round pick (102nd overall) in 2019, Mattison backed up Dalvin Cook from 2019-22 and then was first in line after the team released Cook last year.
He has appeared in 75 regular-season games (19 starts) and totaled 2,370 rushing yards and 11 scores on the ground. Mattison added 100 receptions for 718 yards and six touchdowns through the air.
The Vikings have Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu, Myles Gaskin and DeWayne McBride under contract. Cam Akers, who joined Minnesota during the 2023 season through a trade, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent and is rehabbing a torn Achilles injury he suffered in Week 9 at Atlanta.