On Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 the Minnesota Vikings introduced that their younger famous person vast receiver, Justin Jefferson, has been positioned on the Nationwide Soccer League’s injured reserve record with a considerably critical proper hamstring damage.
The Damage:
The spectacular vast out of the Minnesota Vikings in Jefferson will now must miss a minimal of not less than the following 4 video games on account of his him being placed on the NFL’s injured reserve record.
He strained his proper hamstring final Sunday throughout the Minnesota Vikings’ 27 to twenty loss to the defending Tremendous Bowl champions within the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. That is by far essentially the most devastating setback in what has been a disastrous begin to the Minnesota Vikings’ 2023 – 2024 NFL common – season.
The Minnesota Vikings in the end determined to position Justin on injured reserve record as a way to be sure that he completely doesn’t return to the taking part in area too prematurely which might trigger him to undergo any extra setbacks. The earliest that Jefferson could also be activated is presently an
NFL week – 10 sport versus the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, November 12th, 2023.
The Minnesota Vikings will make an vital choice round that time whether or not Jefferson is able to resume taking part in at NFL sport velocity, or if he’ll want extra time to recuperate from this nagging proper hamstring damage that he has been coping with currently.
“We’re going to must medically make a superb choice and assist virtually shield him from himself slightly bit in a method the place we’ve bought to care for him and get him again to one hundred pc,” the Minnesota Vikings head coach, Kevin O’Connell, defined.
Justin Jefferson’s Affect on the Recreation:
Dropping Justin who was the NFL’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award winner again in 2022, will additional weaken an already poor – taking part in Minnesota Vikings crew to date this yr that has began the 2023 – 2024 NFL common – season with an general document of 1 and 4, and who has three of their subsequent upcoming 4 video games to be performed on the street. The Minnesota Vikings solely house sport over that treacherous stretch is versus the at the moment undefeated San Francisco 49ers who seem like essentially the most dominant crew within the Nationwide Soccer League to date this season.
It appears as if the Minnesota Vikings offense is just about run completely by way of J. J. as coach O’Connell acknowledged that reality final Monday, October 9th, 2023, they usually may have to reinvent their offensive play schemes transferring ahead particularly as they enter a tough a part of the yr with out their finest all – round soccer participant. Coming into week – 5 of the Nationwide Soccer League, Justin was rating in 1st – place within the NFL in receiving yards with 543, and Jefferson was tied for twond – place in catches with 33 in addition to in 3rd – place in targets with 47 simply previous to the 5th – week of the 2023 – 2024 NFL season.
Changing Jefferson as Vast Receiver:
The Minnesota Vikings’ rookie vast receiver in Jordan Addison ought to positively see extra targets not less than over the upcoming 4 – weeks of NFL sport motion. Addison together with their veteran vast outs in Okay. J. Osborn in addition to Brandon Powell ought to count on extra vital and impactful taking part in time for the Minnesota Vikings now that Jefferson will probably be sidelined for some time.
The Minnesota Vikings may even have to regulate to the NFL defenses that can almost certainly really feel coerced to make use of the double – groups and different unique move – coverages that Jefferson routinely would obtain from the Minnesota Vikings opposing defenses.
Talking final Monday, coach O’Connell talked about that if Jefferson missed any time, the Minnesota Vikings would discover out on, “whether or not individuals resolve to play us slightly extra straight up or true, how we run it perhaps in opposition to some seems to be that, fairly frankly, we don’t get a complete lot.”
Jefferson has managed to by no means miss a contest within the Nationwide Soccer League since he started taking part in professional ball, and he had began 53 – consecutive video games since week – 3 of his NFL rookie season again within the yr of 2020. Justin hardly ever has even been compelled to depart the gridiron whereas the Minnesota Vikings have possessed the soccer as he has performed a complete of 92 % of the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive snaps over that lengthy interval of excessive depth match – ups.
“Justin has carried out an outstanding job for the final 3 ½ years of staying wholesome and being wholesome each week, which is difficult to do,” the Minnesota Vikings veteran star quarterback, Kirk Cousins, expressed final weekend. “Even with this damage, it makes you pause and be pleased about how wholesome he has been.”
The Minnesota Vikings negotiated for months throughout the previous 2023 NFL offseason as a way to signal their famous person vast receiver in Jefferson to a good contract extension, however each side had been unable to seek out widespread floor and needed to ultimately break off their negotiations throughout September of 2023. Justin is now scheduled to obtain a $2.4 million base wage for his work throughout the 2023 – 2024 NFL season, and he’s anticipated to earn $19.7 million for the 2024 – 2025 NFL season beneath the phrases of his 5th – yr possibility if there isn’t a contract extension granted earlier than that time.
Jefferson’s hamstring damage might have an enduring affect upon the Minnesota Vikings choice – making for the rest of the yr. Three – distinguished veterans in Cousins, Osborn, and their linebacker Danielle Hunter are all taking part in with contracts that can expire after the present 2023 – 2024 NFL season. The NFL commerce deadline is Oct. 31. Cousins has a full no-trade clause that he must waive if the Vikings wished to maneuver him.
Jefferson’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:
- NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2022)
- First – Group NFL All – Professional Choice (2022)
- 2 – Time Second – Group NFL All – Professional Choice (2020, 2021)
- 3 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (2020, 2022)
- NFL Receptions Chief (2022)
- NFL Receiving Yards Chief (2022)
- PFWA All – Rookie Group (2020)
- School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Champion (2019)
- Second – Group All – SEC Choice (2019)
NFL Data:
- Most Receiving Yards per Recreation in NFL Profession with 98.1
