Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings team is less than a week from their preseason debut. J.J. McCarthy has already been confirmed to start that game, and it will be his only exhibition exposure of the year.
The Chicago Bears loom large on September 8 for Monday Night Football, and that’s the first game that counts. O’Connell needs to get his team healthy and ready to go before then.
Unfortunately they are not there yet. The Vikings invested in multiple questionable talents when it comes to injury this offseason. They didn’t bank on a couple of their own talents joining the group.
Justin Jefferson injury update for MN Vikings
Among the most consequential injuries is superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. He has been dealing with a mild hamstring strain and needs to work himself back into action. Kevin O’Connell provided an update on Wednesday.
"He's clearly building up to a point where he's going to be 100% and we're going to get him back out there" -Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on @jjettas2's status pic.twitter.com/gKRM4sk97K
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 6, 2025
“Ideally you’d love to get him, I’d love for him to practice today if we could. We’ll continue kind of ramping him up and you guys have seen him. If he’s not running to try to tackle me before practice today, which has kind of been a normal occurrence, he certainly looks healthy when he’s trying to tackle me pre-practice here. He’s clearly building back up to a point where he’s 100%, we’re going to get him back out there.”
Kevin O’Connell
That’s certainly good news for Jefferson. In 2023 Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury against the Chicago Bears and wound up playing just 10 games (nine starts). With new quarterback J.J. McCarthy under center, and second option Jordan Addison suspended, the Vikings can’t afford to be without their top option.
Related: 4 Wide Receivers that Vikings Should Consider
Last season Jefferson posted 1,533 yards and ten touchdowns on 103 receptions across 17 games. Once again he will be leaned on as a focal part of the offense.
Other MN Vikings offensive injury updates
Justin Jefferson is not the only player on the offensive side of the ball dealing with an injury for the Minnesota Vikings. Local inside Darren “Doogie” Wolfson shed light on those situations in a recent appearance for Skor North.
That sounds like mostly good news on the Vikings injuries as a whole. If you have watched the clips of Justin Jefferson, it’s hard not to assume the superstar wide receiver feels good. Kelly and Fries joined Minnesota with their own injury concerns, but it doesn’t sound as any of them will miss real time either.
Show me a better player-coach relationship than Justin Jefferson and Kevin O'Connell.
We see these two chum it up like this, all the time.
Also, great seeing Jefferson jogging around at the night practice at TCO Stadium tonight. Looks like the hamstring is good to go. pic.twitter.com/VoJcGCtQhq
— Alec Ausmus (@A_TwiceKSTP) August 5, 2025
T.J. Hockenson has not played a full season in either of the two complete years he has been with the Vikings. Both O’Connell and McCarthy need that to change this season, and the tight end could put up the best numbers of his career if he is available.
It’s unfortunate that sixth round draft pick Gavin Bartholomew is looking at a substantial injury, but that makes the impact of Hockenson and Josh Oliver that much more imperative.
Related: Former MN Vikings First Round Pick Retires
Ultimately it’s good that the nicks suffered during training camp don’t seem to be substantial at this point. The Vikings need as much talent at their disposal as possible when they kick off Week 1 in Chicago. They are trending in that direction.
Mentioned in this article: Christian Darrisaw Gavin Bartholomew Justin Jefferson Ryan Kelly T.J. Hockenson Will Fries More About:Minnesota Vikings