Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Suffered Serious Injuries, Reveals ‘Receiver’

Early in Episode 3 of the Netflix documentary “Receiver,” Justin Jefferson is seen driving to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice facility. It’s a bright fall morning, not long after he suffered a right hamstring injury, putting him on injured reserve.

In an audio overlay, reporters speculate whether Jefferson might exploit the injury for leverage in contract negotiations. They suggest Jefferson could sit out the rest of the season to avoid further injury before securing a lucrative deal.

A stern look crosses Jefferson’s face, a departure from his typically cheerful demeanor. He makes his stance clear.

“No one, no one, no one in this game,” Jefferson emphasizes, “can ever tell me to not play or to tank the season or to do any of that other stuff because I’m not that type of person. I want to play. I love the game of football. I want to be the best. In order for that to happen, I’ve got to be out there on that field. … There’s no prolonging the injury, there’s no, ‘Oh he’s sitting out because of the contract.’ It’s not any of that. At all.”

We soon learn medical details that were unknown to the public at the time. Jefferson felt a pop during the injury. Tyler Williams, the Vikings’ vice president of player health and performance, described the injury’s severity as “high grade,” a term likely indicating a complete muscle tear. The typical recovery time for such injuries is 8 to 10 weeks, according to Williams.

This information explains the backdrop for a period when some fans and media questioned Jefferson’s commitment to a quick return. The Vikings opened his practice window 31 days after the injury, and he returned to limited practice. Without full context, it seemed puzzling why he didn’t resume playing soon after. Another 32 days passed before he returned to games, totaling a nine-week recovery span which included seven games and a bye.

In reality, Jefferson was following a standard recovery timeline, designed to ensure maximum healing and minimize the chance of re-injury.

Upon returning, Jefferson endured 13 plays before taking a hit from Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps. The documentary reveals crucial context. After the hit, Jefferson coughed oddly and walked to the sideline, spitting blood. Medical staff initially suspected he might have bitten his tongue. However, it was soon clear he had not.

The Vikings reported a chest injury, as required by NFL regulations. In the medical tent, the diagnosis was refined to a pulmonary contusion, essentially a bruised lung.

An examination at a local hospital confirmed Jefferson hadn’t broken any ribs or suffered a more serious injury like a collapsed lung. The bruise, while painful, was manageable. Jefferson practiced while referring to it as an “internal bruise” and played in all but three offensive plays in their next game against Cincinnati, just six days later.

The crux of the story is that Jefferson, who hadn’t missed a game due to injury since high school, faced two serious injuries in 2023. These incidents dominated his narrative in “Receiver” and overshadowed his efforts to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in his 10-game season.

The emphasis on these injuries also aimed to dispel any doubts about Jefferson’s commitment to playing, his motivation, and the influence of his contract negotiations—finalized this spring with a four-year, $140 million extension—on his return.

Some might view this as an attempt to revise history, but the documentary’s details align with past statements that the Vikings would utilize all available practice time to prepare Jefferson before his window expired.

The NFL has a history of providing minimal injury information on players, striving for uniformity across its 32 teams, while also aiming to prevent opponents from targeting weaknesses and maintaining a strategic advantage.

In comparison, the Vikings were relatively transparent about Jefferson’s progress. Their practice reports consistently listed his participation as “limited” until the week he returned, serving as a reliable indicator.

Yet, Jefferson still heard the public’s questioning and, as evidenced by his expression in Episode 3, it clearly bothered him. Consider the record set straight, once and for all.

Source: Particle News