Minnesota Vikings training camp hasn’t looked the same this summer without the team’s most competitive player, Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson suffered what head coach Kevin O’Connell described as a “very mild” hamstring strain on the second day of training camp in July. However, almost a month has passed, and Jefferson has not participated in practice.
His availability and building of chemistry with first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is tantamount for the team’s success, especially with Jordan Addison poised to miss the first three games of the season due to suspension for an alcohol-related offense.
Fortunately, Jefferson and McCarthy can start to make up for lost time.
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ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on Monday, Aug. 18, that Jefferson will participate in part of the day’s practice — his first action since the second day of training camp.
As Jefferson’s injury absence continued into August, there was some concern that this was a lingering issue that could impact his availability for at least the team’s season opener on primetime against the Chicago Bears.
The Vikings still appear cautious with Jefferson.
Read more: J.J. McCarthy Faces Brutally Honest Take After Vikings Camp
“You’ll see him [at practice],” O’Connell said when asked about Jefferson’s status for Week 1. “He will begin to take part in practice. It’ll be kind of a ramp-up. You’ll see him take part in bits and pieces of it here, but he will officially be back to work and be ramping up from here. So glad you asked.”
In 2023, Jefferson suffered a right hamstring injury that forced him to miss half of the season. This summer, Jefferson is currently nursing a left hamstring injury.
Given Jefferson’s lack of work this summer, there is some ground to suggest he could play a few snaps in the team’s final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Friday.
Read more: Vikings Facing Backlash Over Major J.J. McCarthy Decision
However, the inherent risk of injury could keep Jefferson off the playing field until his team visits Soldier Field for Monday Night Football.
At just 26 years old, Jefferson has the most receiving yards by any player in NFL history through their first five seasons, with 7,432 yards receiving in 77 regular-season games played.
The gravity that Jefferson commands on defense has led to entire coverage schemes built to take him out of the game, which can be a boon for the rest of the Vikings’ offense and McCarthy.
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