Justin Jefferson Injury Update has been a question frequently asked on the internet here is what I have for you my readers
Justin Jefferson, the star wide receiver of the Minnesota Vikings, suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of the team’s 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
He did not return to the game and his status for the next week is uncertain.
Here is what you need to know about his injury and how it affects his team and fantasy owners.
How long will Justin Jefferson be out for?
The Vikings are still evaluating Jefferson’s injury and are waiting for MRI results and multiple medical opinions.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday that it was too early to put a timeline on Jefferson’s availability and that they would do what’s best for him to get him back to 100 percent as fast as possible.
He also said that they would have to protect Jefferson from himself, as he wanted to re-enter the game against the Chiefs despite his injury.
According to CBS Sports HQ injury analyst Marty Jaramillo, the recovery timeline for hamstring strains is “all over the map” and could range from two to eight weeks, depending on the severity and location of the injury.
He also warned that hamstring injuries tend to linger if not managed properly, as may have been the case with the Rams’ Cooper Kupp at the start of 2023.
Therefore, it is possible that Jefferson could miss some games or play at less than full strength in the coming weeks.
Fantasy owners should monitor his practice participation and injury reports closely and have backup options ready in case he is ruled out or limited.
Justin Jefferson news
Jefferson was the AP Offensive Player of the Year last season, leading the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 yards, and helping the Vikings reach the playoffs.
He was off to another stellar start this season, ranking fifth in the NFL with 36 catches and third with 571 yards through five games.
However, he had a quiet game against the Chiefs, finishing with just three catches on six targets for 28 yards before leaving with his injury3.
He slipped on the U.S. Bank Stadium turf while running a route against Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie late in the fourth quarter and grabbed the back of his right leg as he limped to the sideline3.
O’Connell said he visited Jefferson’s locker after the game to console him and that he was down on Monday.
He also praised him as one of the most ultra-competitors he has ever met2.
Justin Jefferson fantasy
Jefferson has been one of the most consistent and productive fantasy receivers this season, averaging 18.4 points per game in PPR formats.
He has scored four touchdowns and has had at least six catches and 84 yards in four of his five games.
However, his injury puts his fantasy value in jeopardy, as he could miss time or play at a reduced level.
His absence or limitation would also hurt the fantasy outlook of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has relied on Jefferson as his top target and has thrown for 1,487 yards and 12 touchdowns with just two interceptions this season.
If Jefferson is out or limited, the Vikings will have to lean more on rookie receiver Jordan Addison, fourth-year receiver K.J. Osborn, and tight end T.J. Hockenson in the passing game.
Addison had a breakout game against the Chiefs, catching seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Osborn has been a pleasant surprise this season, catching 21 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns.
Hockenson has been a reliable option at tight end, catching 23 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns.
Fantasy owners should consider adding or starting these players if they need replacements for Jefferson or want to capitalize on his potential absence.
They should also keep an eye on other available receivers on the waiver wire, such as Tim Patrick of the Denver Broncos, Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders, or Darnell Mooney of the Chicago Bears.
NFL scores
The Vikings’ loss to the Chiefs dropped them to 1-4 on the season, below the Detroit Lions (4-1) and Green Bay Packers (2-2 before facing the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night) in the NFC North standings.
The Chiefs improved to 3-2 and moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Chargers for first place in the AFC West.
Here are some other notable scores from Week 5 of the NFL season:
- The Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs their second straight loss, beating them 38-20 on Sunday night behind four touchdown passes from Josh Allen.
- The Arizona Cardinals remained unbeaten at 5-0, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 17-10 thanks to a late touchdown run by Kyler Murray.
- The Dallas Cowboys extended their winning streak to four games, edging the New York Giants 44-20 with Dak Prescott throwing for 302 yards and three touchdowns.
- The Cleveland Browns outlasted the Los Angeles Chargers in a shootout, winning 47-42 with Baker Mayfield throwing for 305 yards and two touchdowns and Nick Chubb rushing for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Will Justin Jefferson play in week 6?
As of now, there is no definitive answer to whether Jefferson will play in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears.
The Vikings will have to wait for the results of his MRI and medical opinions before making a decision.
O’Connell said on Monday that they would do what was best for Jefferson and that they would have to protect him from himself.
The Bears are 1-4 and have struggled on offense, ranking last in the NFL in yards per game (243.8) and points per game (15.4).
However, they have been decent on defense, ranking 12th in yards allowed per game (339.8) and 14th in points allowed per game (23.0).
They have also been tough against the pass, ranking seventh in passing yards allowed per game (209.8) and sixth in passing touchdowns allowed (6).
If Jefferson is able to play, he could face a tough matchup against the Bears’ secondary, which features cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor and safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson.
However, he could also exploit their weaknesses, as they have allowed the third-most receptions of 20 or more yards (18) and the fourth-most receptions of 40 or more yards (4) this season.
If Jefferson is unable to play or is limited, the Vikings will have to rely more on Addison, Osborn, and Hockenson as their main pass-catchers.
They could also try to establish the run game with Dalvin Cook, who missed the Chiefs game with an ankle injury but is expected to return against the Bears.
Justin Jefferson contract
Jefferson is in the second year of his four-year rookie contract with the Vikings, which he signed in July 2020 after being drafted 22nd overall out of LSU.
His contract is worth $13.12 million, with a $7.1 million signing bonus and $8.16 million guaranteed.
He has a base salary of $660,000 this season, which will increase to $1.32 million in 2024, $1.98 million in 2025 and $2.64 million in 2026.
The Vikings also have a fifth-year option on Jefferson’s contract, which they can exercise after his third season.
The option would be worth the average of the third through 25th highest salaries at his position.
If the Vikings pick up the option, they would have Jefferson under team control through the 2027 season.
However, given Jefferson’s stellar performance and potential, he could seek a contract extension before his fifth-year option kicks in.
He could also hold out for a new deal if he feels he is underpaid compared to other top receivers in the league.
For comparison, DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals signed a two-year extension worth $54.5 million in September 2020, making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL with an average annual salary of $27.25 million.
What injury does Justin Jefferson have?
Jefferson has a hamstring injury that he sustained in the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.
He slipped on the turf while running a route and grabbed the back of his right leg as he limped to the sideline.
He did not return to the game and his status for Week 6 is uncertain.
A hamstring injury is a strain or tear of one or more of the three muscles that run along the back of the thigh.
The hamstring muscles help bend the knee and extend the hip.
Hamstring injuries are common among athletes who perform sudden bursts of speed or change direction quickly, such as sprinters, soccer players, and football players.
The severity of a hamstring injury can vary depending on how much damage is done to the muscle fibers.
A mild strain may cause some pain and tightness, but not affect movement or strength much.
A moderate strain may cause more pain and swelling, as well as difficulty walking or running.
A severe strain may cause intense pain and bruising, as well as the inability to use the affected leg at all.
The treatment for a hamstring injury depends on its severity and may include rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, massage, stretching and strengthening exercises
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