Minnesota Vikings hit a roadblock last week when superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson suffered an injury only a few days into the training camp. The 26-year-old expressed some discomfort and tightness in his left hamstring, and further evaluation revealed a very mild left hamstring strain.
This was concerning news for Vikings fans, as a hamstring issue kept the four-time Pro Bowler away from action for seven games in the 2023 NFL season. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell clarified that the issue is not on the same leg, but the team is going to be cautious about it.
Jefferson will likely miss the preseason games like the last three years. He has avoided anything major, and the team is confident about Jefferson starting in the Week 1 clash against the Chicago Bears. There were discussions and speculations about the Vikings’ WR’s return to training and O’Connell cleared the air about it during day 2 of padded practice.
“He’s so important to our team… Justin wants to be out here, be around, wants to be present with his teammates, and not just the receiver group, the offense,” O’Connell said. “When the two-minute didn’t go well, it didn’t go the way you want offensively, I heard him. Not in a negative way, but just, ‘Hey, we know we’ve got to be better than that.’ “
“That was my challenge to him. There are a lot of ways we can maximize this time as one of our captains. A guy that sets the tone in this building, and he is knocking it out of the park. Rehab’s going really well, already progressing.”
The Vikings’ HC believes that this injury can be a blessing in disguise for the Vikings and Jefferson. It gives him the time to prepare himself mentally and engage with his teammates. The coaching staff wants to build their star for 17+ games and is glad to able to get out in front of things.
Jefferson was allowed to call a few short plays in the training following his injury. The WR wasn’t pleased with the length of plays, and the quarterback probably couldn’t understand some part of it. He is desperate to be out on the field with his teammates.
“I have zero worry about the opener, but there’s a lot of time between now and then…. He wants to get back out there. He does not want to stay wearing what I wear to practice much longer,” O’Connell said.
Jefferson was Kirk Cousins’s primary weapon during his first few years in Minnesota. He played alongside Sam Darnold last year, and this year, he will have a new face throwing passes at him. He could have used this time to build chemistry with J.J. McCarthy and other new faces on the roster.
It has been an exceptional five seasons for Jefferson. He has broken and set multiple franchise and league records and has established himself among the top receivers in the league. He will be eyeing to reach new heights in the upcoming season.
