Top Vikings Playmaker to Miss Time
If there had to be one injury at Minnesota Vikings training camp, the one that emerged was bittersweet.
The Vikings’ top star will miss time at training camp due to a momentum-dampening injury. The team isn’t freaked out, but it’s the kind of injury that reminds fans how fragile preseason health can be.
The team’s best player, Justin Jefferson, tweaked his hamstring last week, and that’s bittersweet because a) The regular season is still six weeks away b) The injury beset Justin Jefferson, of all people.
Here are the details.
It’s a Hamstring Injury for Justin Jefferson
Training camp did not start perfectly for the purple team.
Justin Jefferson Hurts Hamstring at Training Camp
Of all 91 players at training camp, it apparently had to be Jefferson.
NBC Sports‘ Charean Williams noted on Friday, “Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson ended Thursday’s practice early with what he described as tightness in his legs. The Vikings sent him for an MRI. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Friday that imaging on Jefferson’s left hamstring revealed a mild strain.”
“The team will hold the receiver out of practice a few days, with re-evaluation next week. While there is no firm timetable for Jefferson’s return, O’Connell made clear that Jefferson’s availability for Week 1 is not in doubt.”
It’s a waiting game on Jefferson’s next steps.
A Familiar Injury
Jefferson missed seven games in 2023 with a hamstring injury. He knows the feeling.
The tightness he reported likely spooked him — a familiar feeling — and six weeks before the regular season is a decent time to recognize such a malady. Better than September, anyway.
It’s worth noting that in 2023, the right hamstring sidelined the otherworldly wideout. This time, it’s the left on the MRI.
So, Now What for the Vikings?
Minnesota will be Jefferson-less for the foreseeable future.
This brand of purple leadership absolutely does not rush players back from any kind of injury, and in fact, sometimes, it seems like the club proceeds too cautiously. Unless something miraculous develops, you can put Jefferson on the shelf indefinitely. There is no reason on god’s green earth to rush him back in July or August.
In the meantime, WR2 Jordan Addison will steal the show — that’s what he does — in addition to paving the way for other wide receivers to shine like Jalen Nailor, rookie Tai Felton, Rondale Moore, and Jeshaun Jones, among others.
Training camp will become the playground of non-Jefferson pass-catchers, which isn’t the worst thing in the world.
End of the Summer for Jefferson?
There’s a reasonable chance that “this is it” on Jefferson’s summer.
He doesn’t play in the preseason anyway — head coach Kevin O’Connell protects his starters to the utmost — and training camp won’t need him back in a hurry.
Based on a fan’s lens of the summer — so, training camp and preseason — Jefferson may be a non-factor. Put him on ice to ensure game-readiness on September 8th at Soldier Field.
Janik Eckardt on the Jefferson Development
PPTSD’s Janik Eckardt wrote about Jefferson’s ailment, “Jefferson was not expected to participate in the preseason, considering the Vikings’ approach in those exhibition matches in recent history. And quite frankly, he doesn’t need those reps anyway.”
“Still, the practice reps are valuable at this time of the year, especially with a new quarterback throwing him the rock. Jefferson put up record-breaking numbers with Kirk Cousins because he is a fantastic football player, but the familiarity certainly helped. The good news is that he also produced with Sam Darnold or Nick Mullens.”
Fans’ new goal should be for Jefferson to be 100% ready for Week 1, which is six weeks from today.
Eckardt continued, “It’s the first major injury news that fans didn’t like. Earlier this week, O’Connell proudly announced that both standout blockers, Will Fries and Christian Darrisaw, avoided the PUP list and will participate in practice. Just like Jefferson, they are essential cornerstones for the offense and will be treated with caution regardless.”
“Speedy wideout Rondale Moore is also good to go after missing the 2024 campaign with a knee injury. He could get some extra looks with Jefferson sidelined. Jordan Addison is, until JJets is back on the field, the WR1 of the Minnesota Vikings, a job he did quite well in 2023.”
Perhaps Jefferson getting the hamstring pull out of the way now is a blessing in disguise, especially if it’s the only notable injury at training camp.
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