Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is not expected to sign a contract extension before Sunday's opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday night.
Both sides made a strong effort to get a deal done, but the plan now is to revisit after the season. On Thursday, the All-Pro said that he would like a new deal, but wasn't sure it would happen before Sunday. «Of course, I would want a contract to be done,» Jefferson said. «But at the end of the day, it is all up to them and what the ownership wants to do with that.» General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah reiterated last week that the team intends to get a deal done, but he acknowledged that some players prefer to cut off talks once the regular season begins.
Jefferson would not reveal Thursday whether he has a preference, saying instead that «it's up to them.» Jefferson, 24, has accumulated more receiving yards in the first three years of his career (4,825) than any player in NFL history.
The Vikings have him under contract for two more years — at $2.4 million this season and $19.7 million in 2024 — and could use the franchise tag on him in 2025 if they don't have a deal before then.