Barring a setback, it’s a guarantee that Justin Jefferson will be playing again for the Minnesota Vikings within three weeks as the team on Wednesday opened his 21-day practice window – the time period they have to activate him from injured reserve.
The news first came from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who notes that it doesn’t mean Jefferson will play this Sunday against the Saints but it does mean “he’s on his way back from the hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve.” The Vikings have since confirmed that Jefferson’s window is open.
The practice window for #Vikings star WR Justin Jefferson is being opened this week, sources say, as he now has 21 days to be activated. This does not mean he’ll play this week. But he’s on his way back from the hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve. pic.twitter.com/4aeQ4xH2QT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2023
Jefferson suffered the hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Chiefs. Minnesota lost that game to fall to 1-4 but has responded with four straight victories without Jefferson, including the latest win in Atlanta coming without Kirk Cousins (Achilles), who was replaced by Josh Dobbs in sensational fashion as Dobbs combined for three touchdowns while throwing for 158 yards and rushing for 66 yards.
Minnesota now has a chance to put pressure on the Lions in the NFC North over the final eight games of the regular season. Little did anyone know that it would be the Josh Dobbs-to-Justin Jefferson show that would be leading the charge.
Jefferson’s 571 receiving yards in just five games is still good enough for 18th most in the NFL. And his 13 receptions of 20+ yards is still good enough for fifth most in the entire league.
If Jefferson doesn’t play this Sunday against the Saints – and reports from Tom Pelissero and Adam Schefter on Tuesday suggested that he’s unlikely to play this week – his next opportunity to return will come on Sunday Night Football when the Vikings visit the Broncos in Denver on Nov. 19.
