Vikings ramping up Justin Jefferson ahead of Denver game

Jefferson could make his return from injured reserve this week.

Playing under the lights in Denver on Sunday night could feature the return of all-world wide receiver Justin Jefferson. 

After missing five consecutive games with a strained hamstring, the Vikings are planning to increase Jefferson's workload in practice this week after he the 21-day window to active him from injured reserve was opened last Wednesday. 

"Yeah, we'll see," Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said when asked if it's possible Jefferson could play this week. "We're going to ramp him up. He handled the workload we started him out with last week opening up his window to get him back on the practice field."

Jefferson was injured in Minnesota's Week 5 loss to the Chiefs and on Sunday he tweeted that he can't wait to get back on the field with a team that has won five straight to reassert itself as a contender in the NFC. 

"We'll see what that looks like throughout the week, maybe a little bit more here and there," O'Connell continued. "Nobody wants to be out there more than Justin, maybe with the exception of me wanting him out there, but we're going to continue to be smart with Justin and know that when we do get him back it's going to be a major, major boost for us, getting the best receiver in football back out there with the group and the confidence that that group's had kind of overcoming him not being out there with us."

Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Injured Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts before the game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, Jefferson said he's building up strength in the injured hamstring and considers himself day-to-day, though he doesn't "want to go out there 80-90 percent and have the chance of hurting it again."