Inside The Vikings

Vikings Opening Justin Jefferson's Practice Window This Week

This doesn't mean Jefferson will play against the Saints, but it does mean he's getting closer to a return.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings Opening Justin Jefferson's Practice Window This Week
Vikings Opening Justin Jefferson's Practice Window This Week

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are opening superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson's practice window this week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapaport. That means he'll be out there during Wednesday's practice and now has 21 days to be activated from injured reserve.

Jefferson remains unlikely to play this weekend against the Saints, although it can't fully be ruled out due to his extreme competitive nature. But this move signals that he's getting closer to returning to game action after missing the last four weeks with a hamstring injury. The Vikings' coaches and medical staff will evaluate Jefferson every day moving forward, and they'll make the decision to let him play once he's close to 100 percent and has very little risk of re-injury.

Realistically, Jefferson might be aiming to make his return two Sundays from now when the Vikings take on the Broncos in a primetime game in Denver. He'd obviously love to play against his hometown Saints and Marshon Lattimore this weekend, but that might be rushing him back just a bit too quickly. Hamstring injuries can be tricky and the risk of aggravation is elevated if a player returns too soon.

Whenever it does happen, the Vikings will be thrilled to get back arguably the best wide receiver in football. They've won all four games without Jefferson, surging from 1-4 to 5-4. They currently hold a playoff spot in the NFC. Jefferson won't be catching passes from Kirk Cousins, but he'll provide a major lift to an offense that will be led by either Josh Dobbs or Jaren Hall.

If Jefferson and K.J. Osborn (concussion protocol) don't play this weekend, the Vikings' receivers will be Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson, and N'Keal Harry.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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