Justin Jefferson knows fantasy football managers across the country are anxiously awaiting his return to the field. The Minnesota Vikings wide receiver just doesn’t care.
And the All-Pro made that clear on X, formerly Twitter, this week.
“My health is wayyyy more important than you winning your fantasy games,” Jefferson posted on Tuesday. “It doesn’t matter how many times y’all flood my [direct messages] talking about me selling your team. I DON’T CARE.”
Jefferson has been out and on injured reserve for Minnesota’s past six games with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5. He caught 36 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns before being forced out of the lineup.
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The three-time Pro Bowler was among the highest-drafted players in a variety of fantasy leagues ahead of this season, and in many cases was selected with the top overall pick. But the 24-year-old’s injury certainly isn’t going to heal just to satisfy the pleas of fantasy managers.
The Vikings opened Jefferson’s 21-day practice window on November 8, though he has remained sidelined in the two games since then. The former first-round pick previously said that he won’t be back on the field until he is back to full strength.
“It’s all about how I’m feeling and how strong the hamstring is,” Jefferson told reporters last week. “Hamstring is difficult injury because it lingers. It comes back from time to time if you don’t put the right treatment into it. The guys and the rest of the coaching staff in this building know my worth on the field. They want me 100 percent. As I do as well. I don’t want to go out there 80, 90 percent and have the chance of hurting it again.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said at a press conference on Wednesday that Jefferson, who is questionable to play, is closer to returning for Week 12 than he has been in previous weeks. The team will continue to assess the situation, he said. Minnesota could opt to hold their star receiver out for one more game ahead of their upcoming Week 13 bye week.
The Vikings (6-5) host the Bears (3-8) this week, then, after the bye, play the Raiders on December 10.
“This is a player that means a ton to our organization, both for this home stretch to try to solidify our positioning in the playoffs and still try to compete in the division as much as we possibly can, but Justin means a lot more than just these five or six games, as critical as they are,” O’Connell said on Monday. “His long-term career here is the priority.”
With injuries to Jefferson and Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins, plus a 1-4 start to the season, the 2023 campaign was shaping up to be one to forget in Minneapolis. But five wins in their last six games—plus standout play from the recently acquired “Passtronaut” quarterback Joshua Dobbs—has the Vikings thinking playoffs.
Dobbs has at least one passing and rushing touchdown in each of his first three games in a Vikings uniform. But the 28-year-old also fumbled three times and threw an interception in a 21-20 loss in Denver last weekend on Sunday Night Football.
“It’s hard in this league to go on the road and win,” Dobbs said after the game. “And it’s even harder when you don’t take care of the football like you’re supposed to.”
With or without Jefferson back on the field, the Vikings have another primetime opportunity to add to their win column against the Bears at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday night.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.