Justin Jefferson: 'I'm the main person that's going to make the decision'
Justin Jefferson hasn't been activated from injured reserve just yet, but he appears to be very close to returning based on his words Thursday when he used words like "I'm ready to get back out there" and "it's looking good."
Whenever the decision to play or hold him out Sunday against Denver is made, Jefferson says he'll be the one making that call.
"I'm the main person that's going to make the decision at the end of the day. I'm the person that's going out there running. I'm the person that's going out there and putting my body on the line to win games and do things for this organization. I know how I feel, I know how my hamstring is feeling," Jefferson said. "Of course we're going to weigh in on all the different opinions and what everyone has to say, but at the end of the day I'm the one that's going out there and putting my body on the line."
Sunday will mark six weeks – 42 days – since Jefferson strained his hamstring against the Chiefs. Minnesota has gone 5-0 without him and maintained a top-10 offense. When he gets back on the field, it'll make the Josh Dobbs-led offense that much more dangerous.
"Really just trying to focus on day-to-day. At this moment, just like I said before, I'm just trying to make sure that it doesn't come back," Jefferson said. "Of course doing the treatment every single day, doing different exercises to strengthen it up. It's been going well. Looking forward to seeing how it goes."
Jefferson has missed the last five games but is still on pace for over 1,000 receiving yards.
Image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Jefferson is doing "everything in his power" to play Sunday night, but they're still exercising caution with their star player.
"We're kind of in that day-to-day ramping up phase now," O'Connell said. "We'll determine if it's possible at all to have him for this weekend. We'll determine that and take it one day at a time and then assess it with the doctors. I can tell you, he can't wait to get back going and he's doing everything in his power to do that."
The Viking have until Nov. 29 to activate Jefferson from injured reserve since they opened the 21-day window to do so on Nov. 8. That means it's still possible that he could miss the next two games and then get an entire bye week before suiting up against the Raiders on Dec. 10.
