Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson is highly unlikely to play in next week’s matchup against the Chicago Bears after suffering a hamstring injury during the week five matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. NFL insider Ian Rapoport said, “Based on my understanding it seems like a stretch he will be able to be on the field this week.” This would certainly be a devastating loss for the Vikings if he is not able to play next week.
Update: #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is a "Long shot" to play Week 6 vs the #Bears, via @RapSheet
Rap: "Based on my understanding it seems like a stretch he will be able to be on the field this week." https://t.co/iVV8g1gI8U pic.twitter.com/Hl1gyIfuh3
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 9, 2023
Justin Jefferson Injury
The star receiver slipped on the turf while running a route against Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in the 27-20 Vikings loss. He was ruled as questionable to return to the game after he was seen limping off of the field seeking medical attention. He was able to come back in the game for another snap but ultimately did not do anything for the offense.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that the star receiver would seek multiple medical options for his hamstring and was unable to provide a timeline for his recovery at the time. He said, “We’ve got to get the MRI of it and take a look and find out exactly what it is, where it is if there’s any other factors that go into it, and determine what the best decision is for him to get back to 100% as fast as possible.”
What It Means For The Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson has been off to a monster start this season amounting to 571 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He has been the biggest part of the success of the Minnesota offense since he entered the league. If he is not able to play in week six, the Vikings could potentially fall to a horrific 1-5 record.
There is no exact timetable for Jefferson’s recovery just yet, so this is what everyone will have to work with for now, especially if you have him on fantasy football. This is an ongoing situation and will continue to be updated throughout the week.
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