Reports: Justin Jefferson hamstring injury update reveals he won't play on MNF vs Bears
The Minnesota Vikings (6-5) have chosen to play it safe with Justin Jefferson, holding him out for Monday Night Football versus the Chicago Bears (3-8), according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The Vikings officially designated the star wideout for return from injured reserve on Nov. 8 and this was the last game he could have been active before a bye week.
According to Pelissero, Minnesota is counting on Jefferson reaching 100% in his hamstring injury recovery after the bye, which means they will activate him for the game on Dec. 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
One of the league’s best receivers hasn’t played since he injured his hamstring in Week 5, which resulted in a move to Injured Reserve.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it clear the team isn’t going to rush the former first-round draft pick back on to the field until he’s 100%.
“We’re right at that six-week mark or so. He’s really attacked his rehab, and I think when that time comes, we’ll feel comfortable with Justin being out there. I know Justin will as well. It’s one of those things that knowing you have the bye, and knowing there are five critical [games] to come after that bye, we do have to be smart,” O’Connell said last Monday, via ESPN.
“This is a player that means a ton to our organization, both for this home stretch to try to solidify our positioning in the playoffs and still try to compete in the division as much as we possibly can, but Justin means a lot more than just these five or six games, as critical as they are. His long-term career here is the priority.”
Jefferson taking cautious approach with hamstring injury
So far this season, he has 36 catches, 571 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers are a big letdown for his fantasy football owners, but Jefferson isn’t going to rush his recovery to appease the masses.
“My health is wayyy more important than you winning your fantasy games,” Jefferson tweeted last week with a laughing emoji as he missed the Broncos game. “It doesn’t matter how many times y’all flood my dms talking about me selling your team. I DONT CARE.”
In 2022, Jefferson, the former LSU star had a career-high 1,809 receiving yards with eight touchdowns on 128 catches. Those numbers made him one of the most sought-after targets in fantasy drafts this fall.
Minnesota won five games in a row after losing Jefferson before falling to the Denver Broncos 21-20 in Week 11. Undoubtedly, fans of the team want the wideout back as soon as possible to stop a potential skid. That being said, the Vikings still have the opportunity to catch the Lions after the bye, and if they’re going to do it, Jefferson needs to be fully healthy.