Justin Jefferson will have to wait another week to return to action. The Vikings won’t activate their superstar receiver for Sunday’s game against the Saints.
This news comes from Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. He shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the Vikings’ plan was to “always … ramp him up gradually and that will continue.” Before Saturday, Minnesota listed him as questionable.
Jefferson practice this week. But he hasn’t seen game action since he strained his hamstring against the Chiefs last month. He’s already missed four games.
Activations usually come on Saturday. The Vikings (5-4) did do some juggling with their active roster. They signed linebacker Nick Vigil to the 53-man roster. He had been on the practice squad. They also elevated quarterback Sean Mannion and defensive line,am T.J. Smith from the practice squad. Finally, they re-signed defensive lineman Sheldon Day to the practice squad roster.
Mannion is there for depth at quarterback. The Vikings announced this week that newly acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs will start against the Saints. Minnesota traded for him, Oct. 31, and Dobbs, coming off the bench, led the Vikings to a come-from-behind victory over the the Falcons.
Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles and is out for the year. Rookie Jarren Hall started last Sunday’s game, but he’s now in concussion protocol.
Meanwhile, Jefferson returned to practice, Wednesday, and the Vikings activated the 21-day window to move him from IR to the active roster. He practiced Wednesday through Friday. The team listed as as limited in each of the three practices.
Minnesota got off to a hideous start to the season. But the Vikings have won four games in a row, all without Jefferson. And now they won with a quarterback who didn’t even know his teammates.
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