Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has been on the injured reserve list since Week 6 due to a strained hamstring, but he is eligible to return to action this week.
However, the Vikings have not made any decision yet.
According to Ben Goessling of The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters that the club is still weighing its options with Jefferson.
“We’re going to do what’s best for Justin, and make sure when he does return, he can be the Justin Jefferson we all know and can expect to see,” O’Connell said.
The Vikings have amazingly gone 4-0 without Jefferson in the lineup to run their record to 5-4 after starting the season 0-3.
In the five games he has played this year, Jefferson has logged 36 catches for 571 yards and three touchdowns. He initially suffered his hamstring injury during Minnesota’s Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jefferson, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was selected by the Vikings with the 22nd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 24-year-old burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, catching 88 passes for 1,400 yards and seven scores. The following year, Jefferson was even better, snaring 108 balls for 1,616 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Jefferson then posted his best season to date in 2022, leading the NFL in both receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) while reaching the end zone eight times.
He has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons and also earned a First-Team All-Pro selection last year.
The Vikings have not yet come to terms on a new deal with Justin Jefferson, who is widely expected to land one of the richest non-quarterback contracts in league history.
Minnesota will battle the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.
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