15 October 2023 , 14:25
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The Minnesota Vikings have suffered a huge blow regarding the fitness of Justin Jefferson.
The wide receiver injured his hamstring and sources told ESPN he will be out of action for at least four to six weeks. The 24-year-old sustained the injury against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday and was placed on the injured reserve list on Tuesday.
The 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year will undergo imaging tests in approximately four weeks to help pinpoint when exactly he can step back onto the field. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters he did not expect the player to be out of action for the rest of the season, but hopes his star player can return as soon as possible.
"With hamstrings, I don't want to speculate on exactly when it will be," O'Connell said after the defeat to the Chiefs. "But I know he feels pretty good considering where some guys feel at this point in the process, having been [injured] just this past Sunday.
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"It's just going to be about all that entails to go through the process to where he can have some time to start feeling like he can be at full speed again. As explosive as he is, and that will be a process he'll work through, and hopefully, we can get that window opened and we'll see where he's at."
Jefferson had 36 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns through Minnesota’s first five games this season. However, his efforts have contributed to just one victory in 2023 so far and the Vikings are third in the NFC North, just above fellow strugglers the Chicago Bears, who they play Sunday.
If the Vikings are unable to remain competitive, Jefferson may ponder the reality that he and the organisation did not come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension before this season. Both the player and the franchise tried their utmost to sign a new deal before the season began but in the end, it was decided they would re-negotiate at the conclusion of the campaign.
Jefferson suffered the injury against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)If they did come to an agreement and sign a deal, it’s possible that Jefferson would have become the highest-paid non-quarterback offensive player in NFL history. But despite his team’s poor form and also his spell on the sidelines due to injury, the All-Pro receiver’s price is not expected to drop.
The hamstring issue brings Jefferson’s streak to an end of never missing an NFL game. He had started 53 consecutive games since Week 3 of his rookie season in 2020. He played 92% of the Vikings' snaps and very rarely left the field.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins praised his teammate’s commitment to the franchise and always being available to play over such a long period. "Justin has done a phenomenal job for the last 3½ years of staying healthy and being healthy every week, which is hard to do," he said Sunday. "Even with this injury, it makes you pause and be grateful for how healthy he has been."