Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is day-to-day with a chest injury, in a positive turn of events after the wide receiver went to a Las Vegas hospital for testing Sunday night.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said there is optimism about Jefferson’s availability Saturday when Minnesota faces the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s an opportunity for Jefferson to square off with former LSU teammate and Bengals standout wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Which quarterback might be at the controls for the Vikings also is uncertain.
O’Connell said the official assessment of Jefferson after testing is, “day-to-day, hopefully with a good chance of playing with us in Cincinnati.”
Jefferson was injured while making a 15-yard catch across the middle on a pass from Josh Dobbs. Jefferson leaped for a high pass, and while both of his arms were raised, he absorbed a hard hit on the back right side of his ribs from Raiders safety Marcus Epps.
Dobbs finished the game on the bench with Nick Mullens taking his spot in the fourth quarter of a 0-0 tie. Minnesota walked away with a 3-0 victory on a field goal with under two minutes remaining.
Minnesota’s quarterback duo barely kept the offense warm in a win that sent O’Connell back to review his options for the second time in three weeks, including the bye in Week 13. He did not name a starting quarterback against the Bengals.
The injury prompted an early exit for Jefferson, who was playing for the first time in eight games. He sustained a right hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jefferson averaged 135.8 receiving yards per game through his first four games of the season.
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2022, Jefferson finished Sunday’s game with two catches for 27 yards.
