Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
Thanks to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Wednesday’s “Justin Jefferson Watch” update was rather encouraging.
The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver suffered a quad contusion in Sunday’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, courtesy of otherworldly linebacker Fred Warner.
According to Schefter, though, Jefferson is on track to play Sunday when the Vikings host the undefeated Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Schefter tweeted, “Vikings WR Justin Jefferson participated in today’s walk through, despite his quad injury. It looks as if he is on track to play Sunday vs. the Texans.”
That tweet set the tone for the day regarding Jefferson Watch, even after Jefferson didn’t formally participate in practice. Jordan Addison, Brian O’Neill, Dallas Turner, Ivan Pace, and Andrew Van Ginkel didn’t practice either, meaning Thursday will be a pivotal day for the week’s injury update.
On Tuesday, Jefferson’s head coach, Kevin O’Connell, sounded rather optimistic about his chances of playing in Week 3, a battle of undefeateds at U.S. Bank Stadium between the Vikings and Houston Texans.
“He’s doing well, though. He is doing really well, and he has responded really well to treatment early on, and we will see how his week kind of progresses,” O’Connell told KFAN’s Paul Allen on Tuesday.
O’Connell added about the LSU rivalry between Jefferson and Texans corner Derek Stingley Jr. “I wouldn’t discount the Stingley aspect of it, either. Those two, the LSU side of things. He’s becoming one of the premier cornerbacks in the league.”
Against San Francisco, Jefferson tallied 4 receptions for 133 yards and a mammoth 97-yard touchdown that will grace Vikings highlight reels for years, if not decades, to come. Quarterback Sam Darnold maneuvered his own endzone and heaved the pigskin to Jefferson right past midfield on Sunday, and Jefferson, plus his teammate Jalen Nailor, took care of the rest.
His 97-yard touchdown from Sam Darnold was the second-longest in franchise history, only trailing Gus Frerotte to Bernard Berrian in 2008, which was 99 yards.
Right after the game, Jefferson didn’t sound too worried about the Charley Horse. “I’m not seriously injured,” Jefferson told reporters late Sunday afternoon. “That’s the main important thing. So, it’s just all about getting to the training room, making sure my body is right for next week, and I’ll be ready to go next Sunday.”
Generally speaking, Jefferson should be ready for Week 3, barring a sudden setback. Jefferson said personally he avoided major injury, and it might be a little odd if he missed Vikings-Texans, especially after the Schefter update.
Houston has never defeated Minnesota, coming up short five times in the last two decades.
Jefferson missed seven games in 2023 with a hamstring injury.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
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