Vikings star Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. He did not return to the game, and it was initially unclear how serious the injury was and how long he would be out. However, it has now been confirmed that Minnesota plans to place Jefferson on injured reserve, according to NFL Media and CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones.
The exact timeline for Jefferson’s recovery is still to be determined, as it depends on how quickly he heals and responds to treatment. However, he will be out for at least four games, which is a major blow for the Vikings.
Jefferson sustained the injury while running a route against Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie and slipping on the U.S. Bank Stadium turf during Kansas City’s Week 5 27-20 victory. He was ruled questionable to return and remained on the sidelines for medical attention. Unfortunately, he didn’t get back on the field before the game ended, leaving rookie Jordan Addison as Kirk Cousins’ primary target.
After the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell visited Jefferson in the locker room to offer his support. O’Connell later told reporters that Jefferson would seek multiple medical opinions on his hamstring.
“We need to get an MRI to assess the nature and extent of the injury and determine the best course of action to get him back to 100 percent as quickly as possible,” O’Connell said. “He’s down today. He’s one of the most competitive players I’ve ever met, and he was even trying to return to the game yesterday. So we need to make a wise medical decision and help protect him from himself to some extent.”