Justin Jefferson to undergo testing in 4 weeks, sources say - ESPN

Doctors believe Justin Jefferson's hamstring injury will sideline the Minnesota Vikings star for four to six weeks, and the All-Pro receiver will undergo imaging tests in four weeks to help determine when he can return, sources told ESPN.

The Vikings placed Jefferson on injured reserve last week and are preparing to be without him for a minimum of four weeks.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters last week that he did not expect Jefferson to miss the rest of the season, but Minnesota needs to help itself in the standings to ensure he will return.

The Vikings (1-4) visit the Chicago Bears (1-4) on Sunday before the following six-game stretch leading into their Week 13 bye: home for San Francisco, at Green Bay, at Atlanta, home for New Orleans, at Denver and a home rematch with Chicago.

If the Vikings are unable to remain competitive, Jefferson would be expected to consider the reality that he and the organization did not come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension before this season. The deal likely would have made Jefferson the highest-paid non-quarterback offensive player in NFL history, and his price is not expected to drop.

As competitive as Jefferson is and as much as he would like to be there for his team, he will have to ask himself whether a return this season is worth the risk of long-term injury if the Vikings have fallen out of the playoff race.

For now, Minnesota is hoping that Jefferson can recover as quickly as possible and that the two-time Pro Bowler does not have a more serious injury to his hamstring.

«With hamstrings, I don't want to speculate on exactly when it will be,» O'Connell said last week. «But I know he feels pretty good considering where some guys feel at this point in