When Does Justin Jefferson’s Absence Become Concerning?

Oct 4, 2024; Watford, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson at press conference at The Grove. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

Justin Jefferson removed himself from practice last week with what the Minnesota Vikings have called a mild hamstring strain. The superstar wide receiver has dealt with lower-body injuries previously, and it’s commendable that he knows his body enough not to push it. Minnesota will evaluate Jefferson this week, but at some point, a certain level of concern has to be considered.

Justin Jefferson is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, and at some point, that could be a concern for the Minnesota Vikings.

The reality is that Justin Jefferson is just one season removed from playing in only 10 games due to a hamstring injury. This doesn’t appear to be anything close to that, but it’s also concerning that the muscle issue has flared up. Soft tissues heal differently, and there’s almost no chance we’ll see him play during the preseason.

Minnesota wide receiver J. Jefferson at training camp in Eagan, Minnesota, in summer 2024. Minnesota would later go on to achieve a 14-3 record with Sam Darnold at the helm.

If Jefferson were to sit out all three of the exhibition contests, that wouldn’t be a cause for concern in and of itself. Many superstar players choose to skip meaningless games. That said, Jefferson won’t be able to test his hamstring at game speed short of treating joint practices with the New England Patriots as such.

Justin Jefferson Is on the Shelf with a Hamstring Tweak

The reality is that his injury is probably as mild as the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson have described it to be. The problem is that there is truly never a period where something like a soft tissue injury is truly out of the woods until it’s completely off the radar from a treatment perspective.

Nov 12, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Injured Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts before the game against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Jefferson, like most elite athletes, has to treat his body like a temple. That means even when there isn’t a malady present, he finds himself engaged in strength training and muscle recovery that will allow his body to be put through the rigors that his job demands. Once injuries start to happen, though, there is logistically a greater probability that they happen again.

There isn’t a world where the Vikings want to think about life without Justin Jefferson. They endured that for nearly half of the 2022 season, and it left the offense in a completely different state. With young quarterback J.J. McCarthy taking over, the more offensive weapons at his disposal, the better.

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (2) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

It’s worth believing all parties and trusting that the hamstring issue is mild and nothing to worry about. It’s also fair to have a level of concern that it has popped up again, and hope this isn’t foreshadowing for something more in the future.

Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler