Vikings Placing WR Justin Jefferson on IR With Hamstring Injury
The Vikings will place superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve due to the hamstring injury he suffered on Sunday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. That means he'll miss at least the next four games of the season. Jefferson will first be eligible to be activated ahead of a Week 10 home game against the Saints, but the full length of his absence will depend on how he recovers.
This is a devastating loss for the 1-4 Vikings — one that will make it awfully difficult for them to climb out of their early-season hole. Jefferson is their best player, the face of the franchise, and holds a strong claim to the title of best wide receiver in football. Head coach and play-caller Kevin O'Connell's offense is built around Jefferson's remarkable ability.
Now the Vikings will have to adjust without No. 18 for at least the next four games, which are at Chicago (1-4), vs. San Francisco (5-0), at Green Bay (2-3), and at Atlanta (3-2). O'Connell said on Monday that he believes the Vikings' season is still out in front of them, with all six division games yet to be played, but winning on the road against the Bears and Packers without Jefferson will be no small task.
Even after a quiet Week 5, Jefferson ranks third in the league with 571 receiving yards through five weeks. Four weeks into the season, he was on pace for more than 2,300 yards after opening his fourth year with 150 yards against the Buccaneers, 159 against the Eagles, 149 and a touchdown against the Chargers, and 85 and two touchdowns against the Panthers. Fresh off of winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, Jefferson had seemingly gotten even better.
The Vikings will move forward with K.J. Osborn and rookie Jordan Addison atop their depth chart at WR. Tight end T.J. Hockenson figures to see even more volume as one of Kirk Cousins' top targets. Brandon Powell will also be involved, and players like Trishton Jackson and N'Keal Harry could see the field as well.
This is the first time in Jefferson's career that he'll miss time due to injury. The 24-year-old, who was selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, had more receiving yards in his first three seasons than any players in NFL history — by a wide margin. He took on more of a leadership role this season after the departure of Adam Thielen, being named a captain for the first time. Jefferson became eligible for a contract extension this offseason, but the two sides didn't reach an agreement prior to the beginning of the regular season.
The Vikings aren't going to give up on 2023, even without Jefferson, but this is the type of loss for a 1-4 team that might shift the focus towards 2024.
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