EAGAN, Minn. — The mojo surrounding the Minnesota Vikings 2023-24 season continues to trend in a negative direction, with word that the team will place star wideout Justin Jefferson on Injured Reserve.
Jefferson injured his hamstring Sunday when he appeared to catch his cleats on the artificial turf at U.S. Bank Stadium. He limped to the sidelines and did not return in the Vikings' 27-20 loss to Kansas City.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero broke the news on Twitter Tuesday morning, saying while the exact timeline depends on how he responds to treatment, J.J. is expected to miss at least four games. Other league beat reporters shared similar information on their social media platforms.
The roster move was later confirmed to the Associated Press by a person with knowledge of the decision who wanted to remain anonymous as the team had not yet made the move official.
The timing on losing Jefferson, widely considered the NFL's best wide receiver, would never be good. But the Vikings have stumbled badly out of the blocks, sitting at 1-4 and are already a long shot to make the playoffs. The next four games include three opponents (Chicago, Green Bay, Atlanta) that they normally would be favored to beat. Jefferson's absence from the lineup changes that. The team was already a significant underdog in the matchup against San Francisco.
Speaking with reporters in his regular Monday press conference, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell made it clear the team would be extra cautious with Jefferson, their most important and extremely competitive player.
“We’re going to have to, medically, make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way, where we have to take care of him and get him back to 100%,” O’Connell said.
Without Jefferson, quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Vikings will have to lean hard on rookie Jordan Addison, their first-round draft pick who is off to a promising start. Addison has 19 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns in his first five games.
Fellow wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell will have their roles elevated, and tight end T.J. Hockenson will be even more vital on third downs. Hockenson, who just signed a lucrative new deal, has been plagued with untimely drops early in the season.
“I’m very confident in that group,” O’Connell insisted.
Jefferson's injury also muddies the waters surrounding his contract status. He is currently in the last year of his rookie contract, and talks for a new deal have not yielded a breakthrough.
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