The\u00a0Minnesota Vikings\u00a0released starting running back\u00a0Alexander Mattison\u00a0last week, which paves way for the franchise to take a shot on a player they\u2019ve had their eye on for some time \u2014\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0running back\u00a0Tony Pollard.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During a March 7 appearance on SKOR North\u2019s\u00a0\u201cMackey and Judd\u201d\u00a0podcast,\u00a0KSTP\u2019s Darren Wolfson\u00a0reported that running back is a priority in free agency starting March 13 and Pollard has fans in high places within the Vikings organization.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are multiple fans at a very high level of Tony Pollard,\u201d Wolfson said, adding that Pollard\u2019s performance in a dominant 40-3 win over the Vikings in 2022 has had some staying power in Minnesota. \u201cDoesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re going to chase him, but Tony Pollard is somebody that has some fans in Eagan.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a backup behind\u00a0Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard seized a lion\u2019s share of the workload that day at U.S. Bank Stadium, rushing for 80 yards on 15 carries and adding six receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns through the air.<\/p>\n

He earned Pro Bowl honors for his efforts in the 2022 season, tallying over 1,000 rushing yards, 371 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns even with Elliott in the fold.<\/p>\n

Pollard is coming off a down year in his first season as a starter after he was on a one-year,\u00a0$10.09 million franchise tag.<\/p>\n

He is poised to reach free agency in a competitive market that could see the Cowboys chase a star running back like\u00a0Saquon Barkley,\u00a0Derrick Henry\u00a0or\u00a0Josh Jacobs\u00a0\u2014 giving the Vikings a chance to land him at a discount.<\/p>\n

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TONY POLLARD 68 YARDS TO THE HOUSE \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

(via @NFL<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/97HyBPRg4S<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n