Kirk Cousins’ issue could be exacerbated by Justin Jefferson’s injury verdict.
The Minnesota Vikings are set to place star wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5.
After a difficult start to the season, Minnesota Vikings standout wide receiver Justin Jefferson is poised to be placed on injured reserve, leaving the team to explore their options, potentially at quarterback.
Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The great wide receiver left the field and did not return in the 27-20 loss at US Bank Stadium, and it has now been confirmed that he will miss the next few weeks.
According to NFL Network, the Vikings intend to place Jefferson on injured reserve, with no specific timetable for his recovery.
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Jefferson’s transfer to injured reserve means he’ll miss at least the next four games, including road games against NFC North divisional rivals the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, as well as a trip to Atlanta and a home game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Jefferson’s ailment was revealed after Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday that the receiver would seek different views on the condition. O’Connell indicated that Jefferson would seek further information on the injury before deciding what to do next.
“Justin’s still going through the evaluation process on that hamstring strain,” O’Connell told reporters on Monday, according to NFL.com, before the player was placed on injured reserve.
“I’ll keep you guys posted on what that timeline may look like and how his availability may be for this week or moving forward.”
After four losses in their first five games, and with questions about Cousins’ future, the Vikings may face trade interest in their leading quarterback, who is out of contract at the conclusion of the season.
With Jefferson also out, a string of losses may put the team in line for a top draft pick in a 2024 class that is projected to be filled with excellent quarterbacks.
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“I think there will probably be a couple of different opinions on it,” O’Connell added, “but we’ve got to get the MRI of it and take a look and find out exactly what it is, where it is, if there’s any other factors that go into it, and determine what the best decision for him is to get him back to 100 percent as soon as possible.”
“He’s not feeling well today.” He’s clearly one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met, and he was trying to get back into the game like it was yesterday. So we’ll have to make a sound medical judgment and virtually protect him from himself in a way where we have to take care of him and bring him back to 100 percent.”
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