Justin Jefferson’s Serious Injury Raises Concerns About His Future with the Minnesota Vikings

With Jordan Addison suspended for the first three games of the 2025 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, the Minnesota Vikings desperately need star wideout Justin Jefferson to be ready to go for their Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football" on Sept. 8.

Beyond Jefferson and Addison, the Vikings depth chart at receiver leaves much to be desired with Rondale Moore and Jalen Nailor leading a hodgepodge group of rookies and journeymen, which isn't exactly an ideal scenario for second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy to walk into while making his first career start.

Jefferson has missed the bulk of training camp so far while battling a mild left hamstring strain suffered back in late July.

He didn't practice on Wednesday, but he has been spotted by multiple reporters working with Vikings trainers on a side field, indicating that he could be close to returning to practice.

While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, head coach Kevin O'Connell gave a slightly optimistic update on Jefferson's injury status.

"He certainly looks healthy when he's trying to tackle me pre-practice here," O'Connell said, via Underdog NFL. "He's clearly building up to the point where he's going to be 100% and we're going to get him back out there."

Up to this point in his NFL career, Jefferson has been mostly durable. He missed seven games during the 2023 season with a Grade 2 thigh hamstring strain (the same injury he currently has), but he's played in every game in every other season aside from that one.

It's unlikely Jefferson will see much action in any of Minnesota's three preseason games, but returning to practice where he can build a rapport with McCarthy is likely the Vikings' top priority.

McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee last preseason, so getting as many reps with Jefferson, the Vikings' No. 1 WR who caught 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, is imperative.

The Vikings thought highly enough of McCarthy to let Sam Darnold walk in free agency after his career year and hand the keys to the offense over to the 22-year-old signal caller.

Given how last preseason went, no one would blame the Vikings for holding McCarthy back until the regular season, but O'Connell stated earlier this week the plan is for the Michigan alum to play in Minnesota's preseason opener against the Houston Texans on Saturday. He didn't mention anything about the other two exhibition games.