Vikings Dealt Nightmare Scenario With Justin Jefferson Injury Update
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Vikings have looked like one of the NFL’s best teams through three weeks. Minnesota sits alone atop the NFC North at 3-0, one of just five unbeaten teams left in the league.
Kyler Murray has steadied the offense since taking over at quarterback, even after a scary start to his tenure. He was knocked unconscious by a late hit in his very first game under center for Minnesota.
Justin Jefferson has been a massive part of that hot start, too. He’s caught 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns through three games. He still looks like the league’s most reliable target on tape. That connection with Murray took a hit last week, though, when Minnesota’s top receiver went down against Tampa Bay.
Injury is now set to cost Jefferson his first game of the season. The Vikings have officially ruled him out for Sunday’s matchup against the Dolphins because of the ankle sprain, according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero. He didn’t practice a single day this week. Head coach Kevin O’Connell made the call on Friday.
O’Connell called Jefferson “day-to-day” earlier in the week but stressed the team wouldn’t rush him back before he’s ready. “We want to get him to a certain place where we feel like he can go be himself,” O’Connell said, via ProFootballTalk.
The Vikings also ruled out punter Brett Thorson and cornerback Chuck Demmings for Sunday. Both are dealing with hamstring injuries of their own.
Fan Footage Captured Jefferson Leaving The Field
The injury first surfaced in the opening quarter against the Buccaneers. Fan video from the medical tent showed just how serious it looked in the moment. Jefferson emerged with both ankles heavily taped before eventually heading to the locker room. He finished that game with just two catches for 32 yards before exiting for good.
Testing afterward revealed a sprain rather than anything more serious. That at least spared Minnesota its worst-case scenario heading into this week.
Still, swelling and workload management kept Jefferson out of practice entirely. That ultimately made Sunday’s decision an easy one for O’Connell. Jefferson hadn’t missed a game for injury since a hamstring issue back in 2023, a streak that made this absence sting even more for Minnesota.
The Dolphins Enter This Game Still Winless
Miami arrives at 0-3 after losing to three teams that remain undefeated themselves. That’s a brutal opening stretch by any measure for a team trying to find its footing.
The Dolphins also lost running back De’Von Achane for the season. He tore his ACL last month, adding another significant blow to an already difficult start. Minnesota’s defense has racked up 14 sacks already, while Miami has yet to register a single one all season.
Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson figure to see a bigger share of targets with Jefferson sidelined this week.
The Vikings clearly believe their depth can carry them through one missed game. Whether that confidence holds up against a desperate Dolphins team still remains to be seen on Sunday afternoon.
