Justin Jefferson left the Minnesota Vikings vs Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday, during the 4th quarter and you knew it was somewhat serious when he was watching his teammates work offensively, with his helmet off and a towel over his head on the sideline.
Minnesota Vikings put Justin Jefferson on Injured Reserve
But on Tuesday morning, it was reported by Tom Pelissero (NFL Network) that Justin Jefferson was on his way to Injured Reserve, meaning he will be out at least 4 weeks, possibly more.
The #Vikings plan to place WR Justin Jefferson on injured reserve because of the hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 10, 2023
The exact timeline is TBD based on how he responds to treatment. But Jefferson is out at least four games. pic.twitter.com/hBAYZHZqlV
More on the breaking news from @gmfb: The #Vikings are placing their superstar WR Justin Jefferson on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/OboaZ7yRbv
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 10, 2023
Kevin O’Connell foreshadowed Jefferson’s absence
When Kevin O’Connell came to the podium on Monday, to face reporters, the morning after another loss dropped his team to 1-4 on the season, he started his presser with an update on Jefferson’s status, before answering a few questions about his injury.
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He said that JJ’s timetable for return is not exactly known and that additional testing was required before they announced any official injury status. But, the context within his non-announcement, and the tone in which he said it, did not give off vibes of positivity.
The Vikings head coach said that Jefferson was “down” today, which is weird given how much energy he normally brings to TCO Performance Center, no matter the day. Here is his interview, in it’s entirety.
I'd guess at least two weeks, just given this part alone… pic.twitter.com/yCk952pHs7
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 9, 2023
After his most mediocre start of the season turned into an early exit, due to an injured hamstring, Jefferson has fallen to 3rd in the NFL with 571 receiving yards and 7th with 36 receptions. JJ will no longer be mentioned among the league leaders for receivers, after his IR stint. But in reality, there’s a lot more at stake than that.
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Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan