Justin Jefferson's Injury Against the Chargers Was Just Cramps
The entire crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium seemed to hold its collective breath while Justin Jefferson was down and being looked at by trainers late in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' loss against the Chargers on Sunday. Jefferson stayed down for a few minutes before being helped off the field.
Thankfully, it wasn't serious. Jefferson was just dealing with cramps and was able to return to the game for the final few plays. His status for next weekend's road game against the Panthers shouldn't be in any doubt.
Prior to the injury scare, the Vikings' superstar wide receiver had himself another massive game. Jefferson caught seven passes for 149 yards and his first touchdown of the season, coming one yard shy of being the first player ever with 150 receiving yards in each of a season's first three games. He also tied 2011 Wes Welker for the most receiving yards ever in the first three games of a season: 458.
Jefferson is on pace for 2,595 yards this season. That would obviously be a record.
Jefferson didn't catch his first pass in this game until five minutes had already elapsed in the second quarter. Then, just like that, he picked up chunk gains of 21 and 34 yards on back-to-back plays, setting up a Josh Oliver touchdown. He added a 25-yard catch later in the quarter.
In the Vikings' first two games, Jefferson racked up yards but had been unable to get in the end zone. That changed in the fourth quarter against the Chargers, when he caught a Kirk Cousins pass on a crossing route and took off for a go-ahead 52-yard touchdown.
The Vikings are in a massive hole at 0-3, but Jefferson is off to an incredible start to his fourth season. Minnesota will look to pick up its first win of the campaign next Sunday in Charlotte.
Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all season long.
