Vikings’ Victory Prompts Justin Jefferson to Share Eye-Opening Message
The Minnesota Vikings are currently the top team in the NFL, despite not having their star player to assist them.
Justin Jefferson strained his hamstring against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 8, and since then, Minnesota has triumphed in five consecutive games. The wide receiver was placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury that will keep him out for at least four weeks.
The Vikings decided to keep him out again for the game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, November 12, but Jefferson may return as early as next week to play against the Denver Broncos. After the first check-up, the doctors informed the team that Jefferson would probably be out for 4-6 weeks due to the strain. This coming Sunday marks six weeks since the diagnosis was given.
The upcoming schedule for the Vikings is certainly a daunting prospect for their opponents, a fact that Jefferson emphasized on social media after his team’s win against the Saints.
The NFL has expanded to the extent that every weekend is now a spectacle in its own right. Given the chaotic environment, it’s understandable to overlook or disregard what you witnessed a few weeks ago, as it seems like a lot has transpired in the league since then.
The Vikings are on a winning streak and their wide receivers, A.J. Smith, are emerging as key players. Despite the strong presence of Brown and Tyreek Hill as potential MVP candidates, it’s important not to overlook the fact that Jefferson topped the NFL in receiving after four games with an impressive 543 yards.
Jefferson was on track to break Calvin Johnson’s single-season record of 1,964 receiving yards at that pace. Johnson completed the feat in just 16 games, while Jefferson may have had the opportunity to play in 17 games in theory. Even with the old regular-season structure, Jefferson would have still been on track for nearly 2,200 yards, overshadowing Brown’s and Hill’s MVP chances with his superior performance.
The return of a talent like Jefferson to the lineup will significantly improve any team, as well as any quarterback.
Another remarkable aspect of the Vikings’ winning streak is that they managed to secure victories in the last two games without their quarterback, Kirk Cousins. On October 29, Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers. Before that, he was the NFL leader with 18 passing touchdowns and was on track for his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.
After Cousins’ injury, Minnesota made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to bring in Josh Dobbs. The results of the match have been nothing short of magic in the two weeks since. The only reason he participated in the competition was because rookie Jaren Hall had to leave the game due to a concussion in the first quarter.
Dobbs made his first official start with the Vikings on Sunday and held off the visiting Saints by completing 23-of-34 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, he carried the ball 8 times, gaining 44 yards and scoring once.
With Jefferson back in the lineup, Dobbs is expected to take his game to the next level as the Vikings push through the most manageable part of their schedule.
