The Injury Update on Jalen Nailor Has Arrived
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor injured his hand during last week’s joint practices against the New England Patriots.
The Vikings have finally provided an update on wide receiver Jalen Nailor, clarifying his injury as the team works through key preseason detriments.
And because head coach Kevin O’Connell rested his starters in Saturday’s preseason game, folks didn’t quite know the extent of Nailor’s injury, an important topic with the regular season less than three weeks away.
O’Connell, though, updated the masses on Monday. Nailor is week-to-week.
Jalen Nailor’s Hand Injury Takes Center Stage
The Vikings need a healthy Nailor in Week 1 and beyond.
It’s “Week to Week” for Jalen Nailor
Nailor probably won’t practice this week, and the team will turn its sights on his return to Week 1.
O’Connell told the media about this hand injury recovery: “We’re more than likely going to hold him out for now. I do feel good about where we’re at with that. I think as we roll here, it’s going to continue to give us answers on the rest of that room.”
“We got some more information in the game, we got some more information in the joint practices, even when Jalen was out there, so we’ll just continue to build that together. I would consider it week-to-week at this point, knowing we’ve got three weeks out from that opener that we can ramp him back up.”
It’s a waiting game on his Week 1 game-readiness, though O’Connell struck a generally optimistic tone.
Iffy Timing
Nailor, no stranger to injuries — he missed 40% of all games during his first two seasons — must now rehabilitate the hand in time for the regular season.
The timing is suspect for a couple of reasons: a) Jordan Addison will miss the season’s first three games due to a suspension; Nailor is in line to fill WR2 duties for those weeks b) Rondale Moore will not be a part of the 2025 offense after blowing out his knee in the first preseason game.
If one cynically assumed that Nailor wouldn’t heal in time for the Week 1 contest against the Chicago Bears, Justin Jefferson would headline the WR room, along with rookie Tai Felton and perhaps training camp standout Lucky Jackson.
In-House Alternatives if Nailor’s Injury Lingers
The Vikings would call on one or some of these players if Nailor isn’t good to go by September 8th:
- Tai Felton
- Lucky Jackson
- Jeshaun Jones
- Myles Price
- Silas Bolden
- Tim Jones
- Thayer Thomas
Minnesota also has the added advantage of increasing tight end T.J. Hockenson’s workload without Addison and possibly Nailor.
The External Market
Moreover, a handful of decent free agents remain signable on the open market. They include Nelson Agholor, Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Boyd, DJ Chark, Amari Cooper, Gabe Davis, and Brandon Powell.
Minnesota could also explore a trade for a man like Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers) or Trey Palmer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
The post-roster-cutdown market, as well, will feature several decent WR options.
Our Partner’s Take
At our partner site, PurplePTSD.com, Janik Eckardt took on Nailor’s injury situation this week.
He explained, “Long story short, Nailor won’t practice in the near future and might be out for quite some time. Suddenly, the Vikings are alarmingly thin at receiver, which is especially problematic considering J.J. McCarthy will make his first career start in Week 1, and it might not be ideal to be forced to start Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones, or Tai Felton at wideout.”
“It’s realistic that, in addition to Addison, the Vikings will be without Nailor and Rondale Moore. The latter had to be placed on IR with a significant knee injury. Those three looked like the second through fourth players on the depth chart just two weeks ago. Adding someone from the waiver wire should be a priority for the Vikings. Neither Felton nor Jones nor Jackson has caught a pass in the National Football League.”
Nailor also enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
Eckardt added, “The biggest name in free agency is Amari Cooper, who had 1,250 yards in 2023. His production dropped off last year after a trade to Buffalo. Nailor struggled with injuries in college and missed most of 2023 with various issues. Last year, he finally experienced his breakout campaign and eclipsed 400 receiving yards and had six touchdowns as the third wideout in the building next to Jefferson and Addison.”
“The clock is ticking for the Vikings, but also for the 26-year-old, who is in the final year of his rookie contract and needs a strong season to have a market in March.”
Nailor basically has three weeks to get all healed up. Otherwise, Minnesota will need a contingency plan.
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