Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson is dealing with a mild hamstring strain, which has ruled him out of Friday's (July 25) practice and will undergo further testing next week, head coach Kevin O'Connell revealed.
"Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has announced that WR Justin Jefferson has a mild hamstring strain and he will be held out of practice. Jefferson will be re-evaluated next week," O'Connell said via the Vikings' social media accounts.
Jefferson, 26, sat out most of the Vikings' drills during Thursday's (July 24) practice due to what he described as being "a little bit of tightness" in his legs. Sports Illustrated's Will Ragatz reported that Jefferson made a "leaping catch" on the sideline and had some "inadvertent contact" with cornerback Jeff Okudah, who was covering him at the time, with both having "stood on the sidelines" for "the remainder of practice."
"I'm fine after that catch, for sure," Jefferson said via Sports Illustrated. "But just having a little bit of tightness. Of course, with the past recent injuries and the stuff that I have gone through before, just taking precaution and understanding that it's the second day of camp, not the 30th. So just making sure that I'm fully healthy and I'm good to go, especially when the season starts."
Jefferson has played in 17 games games in three of the last five seasons, the only exception being the 2023 season in which he missed seven games due to a Grade 2 thigh hamstring strain. The former LSU standout has recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards in all of his first five NFL seasons.