The Minnesota Vikings have been operating with a limited offense all season, and they are hopeful that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson will be available for their Week 3 matchup against the formidable Houston Texans.
According to a recent report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it seems that Jefferson may be on track to play, despite suffering a quad contusion that cut his Week 2 game against the San Francisco 49ers short.
Schefter shared on X that Jefferson participated in the team’s walkthrough on September 18, indicating a positive outlook for his participation against the Texans.
Justin Jefferson himself described his injury as a minor thigh bruise, stating, “Just got to treat it up, get it figured out and be ready to go next week,” following the Vikings’ surprising victory over the reigning NFC champion 49ers.
This news is particularly beneficial for quarterback Sam Darnold, who has been performing well despite missing several top receiving options. Jordan Addison, who played briefly in Week 1, did not practice on Wednesday and may also be unavailable this weekend. Additionally, Darnold has yet to have two-time Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson available in 2024 due to a knee injury.
Despite these challenges, Darnold has led the Vikings to a 2-0 start, throwing for 476 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, with a completion rate of 72%.
The Vikings’ victories over the New York Giants and the 49ers have begun to garner them some national attention, though ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak still labels them as “pretenders.” He expressed skepticism about Darnold’s ability to elevate the team to contender status without significant offensive support, citing the challenges of replicating past successes achieved by coaches like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson participated in today’s walk through, despite his quad injury. It looks as if he is on track to play Sunday vs. the Texans. pic.twitter.com/GvL9tpGKYQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2024
