The Minnesota Vikings are off to a tough start in the 2023 season. Their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5 dropped them to 1-4 on the season, already three games behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North.
They are set to face off against the Chicago Bears in Week 6 in a game that is of the utmost importance. If the Vikings want any hope of turning things around this season, defeating the Bears is the first step in doing so.
Alas, that is easier said than done. Minnesota hasn’t looked great this season and to make matters worse, their best player, star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury suffered against the Chiefs.
Without Jefferson in the lineup, the Vikings will be turning to rookie Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell as their top three receivers. It will take a total team effort to fill such a massive void as Jefferson is a nearly irreplacement player.
There are also other factors at play. Jefferson will be sidelined for at least four weeks after being placed on short-term IR, but there is certainly a chance he will be sidelined much longer than that.
As shared by Adam Schefter of ESPN, what is keeping him from sitting out beyond the four weeks, especially if the Vikings aren’t winning games and fall out of the playoff race altogether? Also, the fact he didn’t receive a contract extension leaves little incentive for him to rush back.
Alas, it is hard to imagine the Vikings being able to hold Jefferson out of games. This will be the first games of his career that he misses and based on interviews and quotes he has provided, he doesn’t sound like a person who is going to want to sit out more games than he has to.
For the long-term health of the franchise, holding Jefferson out would be best. Given the uncertainty surrounding other veterans on the team, such as Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter and Osborn, a firesale could be on the horizon. That would be a signal that the Vikings are looking ahead to the future, one they would hope includes a top quarterback prospect from the 2024 NFL Draft.
