Returning to action this week against the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson reflected on the despair he felt while sidelined for seven games with a hamstring injury.
“Yeah, it sucks. It’s a terrible feeling, just feeling hopelessness for not being on the field,” Jefferson said in a December 7 news conference. “The fans expect you to come out and play every single week.
Teammates expecting you to come out and play hard every single week, so it’s tough being on the sideline and switching roles.
“I’m finally back now and I’m very, very excited to be back on the field.”
The Vikings won their next five games but lost Kirk Cousins to a season-ending Achilles injury just two games into their streak. After Cousins’ injury, Minnesota traded for Josh Dobbs who has gone 2-2 as a starter approaching a pivotal Week 14 matchup in Las Vegas.
The Vikings, currently 6-6, hold a 44% chance of making the playoffs and must face the division-leading Detroit Lions (9-3) twice and the Green Bay Packers (6-6), coming off a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, in the final three weeks of the season.
Securing a win over the Raiders will be crucial for Minnesota to control its destiny heading into that final divisional stretch of the season.
It will be Dobbs’ first game with Jefferson at his disposal, and also only Jefferson’s second game where Cousins isn’t at quarterback.
The duo hasn’t taken many reps together before this week. Jefferson was activated off injured reserve during the bye week and returned to his first full practice on Wednesday, December 6 — however, Jefferson is not concerned with the lack of reps with Dobbs.
“I’ve been talking with Josh. Before this week I wasn’t really in practice as much so I wasn’t really working with him as much,” Jefferson said.
“But I feel like we’re going to be good. We’re going to be fine as long as he has confidence in me and I have confidence in him.”
