Vikings unsure of Justin Jefferson's status after injury - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — As he walked through the locker room Sunday evening, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell stopped to chat with receiver Justin Jefferson. He threw his arm around Jefferson's shoulders, leaned in closely and spoke a few encouraging words into his ear.

It was the kind of conversation no coach wants to have. O'Connell's star player left Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after a fourth-quarter injury to his right hamstring, and it's a worrisome turn of events for a team that runs its entire offense through him.

O'Connell said that it's «still very early» to project a timetable for Jefferson's recovery — or if he'd miss any time at all — but a hamstring injury for a player at his position can be problematic.

«We'll get him back as soon as we possibly can,» O'Connell said. «There won't be a better teammate in that locker room during the time [he is out]. Hopefully we have him right back this week.»

Jefferson, who declined comment, hasn't missed a game since the Vikings made him their first-round draft pick in 2020, and he has rarely missed a snap during that period. Since joining the starting lineup in Week 3 of his rookie season, Jefferson has made 53 consecutive starts while playing 92% of the Vikings' offensive snaps.

«Justin has done a phenomenal job for the last 3½ years of staying healthy and being healthy every week, which is hard to do,» quarterback Kirk Cousins said. «Even with this injury, it makes you pause and be grateful for how healthy he has been.»

Sunday was Jefferson's quietest day of the season. Cousins targeted him six times, but he dropped one pass — only his second in the past two seasons — and caught only three for 28 yards. The injury occurred midway through the fourth