Vikings get potential timeline on Justin Jefferson injury

When the Minnesota Vikings placed superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, they knew it was going to sideline him for a minimum of four weeks.

There is a chance the injury will keep him off the field even longer than that.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that league doctors believe Jefferson could miss as many as six weeks due to the injury. He will undergo further imaging tests in four weeks to determine a more specific timeframe for when he can return.

Jefferson is one of the NFL's best players and the most impactful player on the Vikings roster. His absence, no matter how long, is going to be a significant loss for a team that is already trying to dig itself out from a disappointing 1-4 start. 

Complicating matters here is the fact Jefferson was seeking a long-term contract extension before the season, with the two sides unable to come to an agreement on a new deal. There is the possibility that if the Vikings continue to lose games and fall out of the NFC playoff race, Jefferson might not rush himself back into the lineup. There would be significant risk for him personally to come back too soon and risk further injury on a team that might not be going anywhere.

Jefferson was the 2022 NFL Offensive Player Of The Year and in five games this season had already caught 36 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers had put him on a pace to nearly match his reception total from last season (128) while exceeding his yardage total (1,809). He was on pace for 122 catches and 1,941 receiving yards. 

In Jefferson's absence, the Vikings will need to rely heavily on rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison to pick up the slack in the passing game. 

Jefferson's injury, as well as the Vikings' poor start, has increased speculation that the team could become sellers prior to the Oct. 31 trade deadline.