Justin Jefferson
Wide Receiver #18
Justin Jefferson News
Justin Jefferson Still Dealing With Ankle Injury, Limited on Wednesday
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is on the Week 7 injury report with an ankle injury and was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. Jefferson tweaked his ankle in Week 3 in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was held out of the Week 4 victory over the Miami Dolphins. The 27-year-old All-Pro wideout returned for the Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints and caught six of seven targets for 79 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Jefferson has not ditched his ankle injury after having a week off during the Week 6 bye, but the fact that he is limited could just mean that the Vikings are giving him a little more rest as the team prepares to play the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday. If Jefferson upgrades to a full practice on Thursday or Friday, he could be removed from the final injury report entirely. The four-time Pro Bowler has 19 catches for 258 yards and three scores through four games this year and should be a must-start in all starting fantasy lineups if he gets the green light to face the Colts.
Oct 21, 2026 1:55 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Finds the End Zone in First Game Back
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson caught six of his seven targets for 79 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown during Sunday's Week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints. He also had a rushing attempt for a loss of 11 yards. Jefferson returned from a one-week absence caused by an ankle sprain, and he wasted no time making an impact in his first game back. The 27-year-old now has 19 catches for 258 yards and two touchdowns through parts of four games this season. He's still not quite back at his overall WR1 form from 2022, but his impressive performance on Sunday is absolutely a step in the right direction. The Vikings have a Week 6 bye, but Jefferson will look to build on this momentum when he returns to the field in Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, who just held DK Metcalf to a mere 12 yards.
Oct 11, 2026 6:26 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Active Against Saints
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Jefferson missed last week's win over Miami after injuring his ankle against Tampa Bay in Week 3. He was limited in all three practices leading up to Sunday and entered the weekend listed as questionable. Jefferson had 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games, with both scores coming in the season opener against Green Bay. He returns with Jordan Addison (hamstring) inactive, leaving Minnesota without its usual starting receiver combination.
Oct 11, 2026 7:40 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Expected to Play Against the Saints in Week 5
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is expected to play in Sunday's Week 5 contest against the New Orleans Saints, according to Jeff Darlington of ESPN. Jefferson entered the weekend listed as questionable, but he plans to suit up against New Orleans, barring a setback during pregame warmups. Jefferson's availability for Week 5 shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as he previously said he'd do whatever was necessary to play in Louisiana, where he went to college. Jefferson is on track to play his first full game since Week 2. Through the first two weeks of the season, he caught 11 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He briefly caught passes from Kyler Murray in Week 1 before the quarterback suffered a concussion, but barring an injury, Sunday's game will represent the first time the quarterback and receiver play a full 60 minutes together. With that being said, fellow wide receiver Jordan Addison won't be along for the ride, as Darlington reports that Addison will be inactive for Week 5.
Oct 11, 2026 6:21 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Remains a Game-Time Decision Against New Orleans
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) will work out ahead of Sunday's Week 5 contest against the New Orleans Saints to determine whether he's able to play, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The 27-year-old receiver is listed as questionable, and he previously said that he'll do whatever he can to play in Louisiana, where he played college football. Jefferson had 92 yards and two touchdowns back in Week 1, but he followed that up with a modest 8.5-point showing in PPR leagues. Then, he exited early in Week 3 and was inactive for Week 4. If Jefferson does play on Sunday, it'll be his first full game with quarterback Kyler Murray. The jury is still out on whether Murray can support consistent WR1 production from Jefferson in fantasy football.
Oct 11, 2026 4:59 AM EST
Justin Jefferson "Plans to Play" in Week 5
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) "plans to play" and "wants to play" this Sunday in a Week 5 matchup on the road at the New Orleans Saints. Jefferson was held out of last week's win over the Miami Dolphins. He was limited in practice this week and is pushing to play as he returns to his hometown of New Orleans. Fellow wideout Jordan Addison (hamstring) is also questionable, so quarterback Kyler Murray could be down two of his top wideouts on the road in a tough environment. Fowler thinks both Jefferson and Addison could be game-time decisions on Sunday morning. It appears that Jefferson is trending in the right direction this weekend, but fantasy managers are going to have to come back this weekend for an update on his status. If Jefferson is active, he is an absolute must-start in all traditional fantasy football leagues. The 27-year-old former LSU star would love nothing more than to return to his hometown and put on a show. In three games so far in 2026, Jefferson has caught just 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Oct 9, 2026 4:45 PM EST
Happy Homecoming For Justin Jefferson?
After missing the majority of two games with an injury and carrying a questionable designation, Justin Jefferson (ankle) could be a luxury WR2 if the Minnesota Vikings give him the green light against the New Orleans Saints. The Louisiana native and former LSU star said earlier in the week that he intends to play in his home state, and he practiced in a limited capacity every day this week. However, with the Vikings' bye looming next week and ankle sprains being notoriously tricky, it remains to be seen how aggressive Minnesota will be with its best player. Jefferson compiled 16 catches and 232 yards in two previous games against the Saints, who rank 13th against PPR receivers this season. The Vikings' offensive struggles and Jefferson's injury dampened his outlook to RotoBaller's No. 17 receiver this week, but if he's active, Jefferson is still an elite option worthy of starting in every format.
Oct 9, 2026 1:10 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Questionable for Week 5
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is questionable to play in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis. An ankle injury kept Jefferson from playing in the Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins, and his status is once again up in the air this weekend. If Jefferson returns, he should be returned to all starting fantasy lineups on the road in New Orleans. In addition to Jefferson, fellow wideout Jordan Addison (hamstring) is questionable to play. The good news is that both wideouts were able to practice on Thursday and Friday, so they should be on the right side of questionable to face the Saints. Quarterback Kyler Murray would be a much more acceptable QB2 play in superflex formats if both Jefferson and Addison are active on Sunday. Jefferson, 27, has 13 catches on 17 targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns through his first three games in 2026, with both of his scores coming in the Week 1 win over the division-rival Green Bay Packers.
Oct 9, 2026 10:36 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Limited Again on Thursday
Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day this week on Thursday. Jefferson hurt his ankle in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then did not play this past Sunday in the Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The 27-year-old is at least practicing this week, but he is not a lock to return for the Week 5 game on Sunday on the road against the New Orleans Saints. Fellow receiver Jordan Addison (hamstring) is also dealing with an injury, but he returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday. Fantasy managers will hopefully have a better idea of Jefferson's Week 5 status on Friday. If the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro is active this weekend, he will need to be deployed in all starting fantasy lineups as one of the top pass-catchers in football. Jefferson and quarterback Kyler Murray have not had a ton of time yet in the regular season to develop chemistry because of their injuries. The Louisiana native will likely be pushing hard to return this weekend as he returns home to the Big Easy.
Oct 8, 2026 1:55 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Limited on Wednesday, "Doing Well"
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is "doing well" and will be limited in Wednesday's practice. Jefferson sprained his left ankle in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and did not practice last week before being ruled out for the Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins. The All-Pro receiver is not a lock to return for a Week 5 tilt on the road against the New Orleans Saints, but the fact that he is back at practice early in the week is a good sign. Fellow receiver Jordan Addison is nursing a hamstring injury this week as well, so Minnesota's receiving corps could be short-handed against New Orleans. Jefferson is a must-start in all traditional fantasy football leagues when he is active, but we will need to keep a close eye on his status over the next two days. With Jefferson out and Addison getting injured on Sunday, tight end T.J. Hockenson had a big game through the air. Jefferson has caught 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns in three games this year, and he has yet to really develop chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray, with the two players already missing time with injuries in 2026.
Oct 7, 2026 2:24 PM EST
Vikings Hopeful that Justin Jefferson Will Return in Week 5
The Minnesota Vikings are "hopeful" that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) will make his return in Week 5, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Jefferson suffered the injury in Week 3 and has been ruled out for the Vikings' Week 4 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. However, Fowler reports that Jefferson's injury is "not a long-term issue." Across three games this season, the 27-year-old has recorded 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 17 targets. When healthy, Jefferson profiles as one of the best wide receivers in football and the clear number one option in the Minnesota passing game. Without him, Vikings wideouts Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings should see larger workloads this week against Miami.
Oct 3, 2026 5:25 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Ruled Out for Week 4
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 4, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Jefferson suffered an ankle injury during Minnesota's Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that knocked him out of the game and prevented him from practicing in any capacity this week. Even while missing most of Week 3, the 27-year-old has recorded 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns on a team-high 17 targets so far this season. With Jefferson sidelined, Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison jumps up into borderline must-start territory, and veteran wideout Jauan Jennings becomes a semi-intriguing deep-league flex option. Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson could be a worthy tight end streamer for fantasy managers in a favorable matchup against Miami as well.
Oct 2, 2026 10:35 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Not Spotted at Friday's Practice
Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) left the team's Week 3 win over the Buccaneers with an ankle injury, and while the initial messaging after the game suggested he was close to returning to action, he has not practiced since and was absent again on Friday. With his Week 4 availability in serious question, fourth-year wide receiver Jordan Addison becomes a usable flex play after leading the team with 90 receiving yards and a touchdown in Jefferson's absence. While the Vikings are 10.5-point favorites over the Dolphins, the potentially lopsided matchup could significantly lower Addison's ceiling, even if serving in the primary pass-catching role. Miami has been the third-worst matchup for fantasy receivers, as they've offered little resistance on the ground.
Oct 2, 2026 10:00 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Not Seen Practicing Thursday
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) was not practicing during the open portion of Thursday's session, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Jefferson also sat out Wednesday as he works back from the left ankle sprain that knocked him out of last week's win over Tampa Bay. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has called him day-to-day and said the Vikings won't put Jefferson back on the field until he can play like himself. The star receiver has 13 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns through three games. Minnesota has not ruled him out for Sunday against Miami, but another day without visible practice work keeps his Week 4 status very much up in the air.
Oct 1, 2026 11:54 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Won't Practice on Wednesday
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said that wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) will not practice on Wednesday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Jefferson suffered a left-ankle sprain in the Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now questionable to play in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old was reportedly close to re-entering Sunday's game against Tampa, but the Vikings ultimately held him out, and he finished with only two catches for 32 yards. The Vikings are saying that Jefferson is not dealing with a long-term ankle injury, but that does not mean he will not be in danger of sitting out this weekend's game. The four-time Pro Bowler will need to return to practice on either Thursday or Friday for fantasy managers to feel comfortable about him playing in a great matchup against Miami. When active, Jefferson is always a must-start WR1 in fantasy football. He has 13 receptions on 17 targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns through his first three games in his seventh year in the NFL.
Sep 30, 2026 10:34 AM EST
Justin Jefferson Could Play in Week 4
Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) sprained his ankle in the team's Week 3 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there is a chance that he will not miss any time and start in Week 4 against the visiting Miami Dolphins this Sunday, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. Jefferson's MRI results were encouraging on Monday, with head coach Kevin O'Connell saying that he "avoided anything long-term." The 27-year-old caught just two passes for 32 yards before leaving Sunday's contest, but fantasy managers have to be happy with the fact that he might not miss any time at all. The Vikings were close to bringing Jefferson back into Sunday's contest a "couple of times," which shows that his ankle injury was pretty minor. The four-time Pro Bowler has not had time to gel with quarterback Kyler Murray so far through three weeks, but they could have a great matchup to take advantage of this weekend against Miami. Jefferson is a must-start WR1 in fantasy if he can play in Week 4.
Sep 28, 2026 3:41 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Avoids Long-Term Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) suffered a left-ankle sprain in Sunday's 23-16 win over Tampa Bay, but he appears to have avoided a long-term absence. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Monday that Jefferson's imaging was encouraging and there is a chance he plays Sunday against Miami. Jefferson hurt the ankle on the final play of Minnesota's opening drive. He walked off under his own power, spent time in the medical tent, and later returned to the sideline, but he never got back into the game and was ruled out in the third quarter. Jefferson finished with two catches for 32 yards. His Week 4 status is still uncertain, but the early news is encouraging.
Sep 28, 2026 11:48 AM EST
Justin Jefferson's Injury Doesn't Sound Too Serious
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) was forced to leave during the first half of Sunday's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Kevin O'Connell said Jefferson got close to returning to the game multiple times, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. The Vikings are going to continue to evaluate Jefferson, but it doesn't sound like his ankle injury is too serious. He finished Sunday's game with two receptions on two targets for 32 yards. The Vikings have a home matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. Fantasy managers should stay tuned to see if Jefferson will be available for that game.
Sep 27, 2026 4:27 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Ruled Out on Sunday with Ankle Injury
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest due to an ankle injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The star wideout sustained this injury in the first half and will now be sidelined for the remainder of the contest. Before exiting, the 27-year-old brought in both of his targets for 32 yards from Kyler Murray. Managers should watch his status after the contest, as the team will likely provide an update. For the remainder of the game, Jordan Addison should operate as the WR1 while Jauan Jennings slides into the No. 2 role.
Sep 27, 2026 2:15 PM EST
Justin Jefferson Questionable to Return Against Buccaneers
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team reported via the X platform. The veteran wideout caught both of his targets and registered 32 yards before leaving Sunday's game. The former All-Pro was viewed as a top fantasy performer heading into Week 3 against a struggling Buccaneers defense. T.J. Hockenson had the only other reception for Minnesota, and Tai Felton missed his one target. Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings are both active for the Vikings.
Sep 27, 2026 12:55 PM EST
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