Justin Jefferson could return Sunday night against the Denver Broncos, though the Minnesota Vikings aren’t ready to say as much just yet.
“[Jefferson is] going to do a little bit more today,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said Wednesday.” We’ll see how he responds to that, a little bit more tomorrow and then throughout the week. We’re kind of in that day-to-day ramping up phase now. We’ll determine if it’s possible at all to have him for this weekend. We’ll determine that and take it one day at a time and then assess it with the doctors. I can tell you, he can’t wait to get back going and he’s doing everything in his power to do that.”
The Vikings have been without Jefferson the past five games due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Minnesota opened Jefferson’s 21-day practice window last week. They have 14 days to activate him from IR or place him on season-ending IR.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted earlier Wednesday that Jefferson “cannot be” ruled out for this Sunday’s game against the Broncos.
“Obviously, Jefferson will be a boost whenever he gets back on to the field,” said Pelissero. “Jefferson has said himself that he needs to get back to 100% though before he does that. They’re on the same page on that front.”
The Vikings have gone 5-0 in Jefferson’s absence as they have vaulted themselves back into the playoff picture after an 0-3 start looked to doom the season before it really got going. Minnesota has been aided in their five-game winning streak by big performances from rookie receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson.
