Vikings Territory: Justin Jefferson Injury Scare Exposes Larger Concern For 2021 Vikings

Press release from Vikings Territory:

August 7, 2021

In 2020, the Minnesota Vikings season went pear-shaped when injuries tormented the defense. From Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce (opt-out), Anthony Barr, Mike Hughes, to Eric Kendricks — the defense faceplanted without its essential personnel.

But most of those free agents were defenders.

The crisis was averted soon after when the who’s-who of NFL intel reported Jefferson’s ailment as AC joint sprain, plopping the LSU alumnus into “day-to-day” status rather than a 2020 Danielle Hunter-like gone for the year. Jefferson will be ready for Week 1 at Cincinnati barring any new setbacks.

Storybook seasons akin the Nick Foles leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl in 2017 are outliers. Hell, the Vikings damn near authored one in that same season when Sam Bradford was replaced by career journeyman, Case Keenum, at quarterback. So, on the whole, an NFL season can be ruined by a QB1 injury. Imagine Patrick Mahomes ceding snaps to Chad Henne for a full season. The world would return to an opinion of Andy Reid as a close-but-no-cigar coach.

Without Jefferson, the Vikings might be sunk — or so says the masses. Is that a smart mentality to allow for a team just five weeks before the commencement of the regular season? Perhaps Jefferson is just that good and his value is immeasurable.

Dede Westbrook was recently signed to play WR3, although his utilization at training camp has been minimal while he recovers from a torn ACL. K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Whop Philyor have all documented moments at Vikings training camp. The life-without-Jefferson angst might just be a fan-induced ordeal.

In addition to the Westbrook acquisition, Golden Tate, 33, has not signed with an NFL team for his ninth season. No stranger to the injury bug himself, Tate is healthy now and waiting for an olive branch to continue the latter portion of his commendable career. He certainly will not post Jeffersonian numbers, but he is reliable and battle-tested.

August 6, 2021

With either of those scenarios — signing a free agent like Tate or trading for Washington — the Vikings would return to a 2015 or 2016 feel for the WR corps, before Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs truly blossomed as Top 15-caliber pass-catchers. It would just have to work because, well, that’s the price to pay when a player like Jefferson falls by the wayside. The pricetag for Washington is reasonably a 5th or 6th-Rounder in a future draft.

Minnesota would not be the same without Jefferson if another injury arises. But 2021 hope need not be gutted altogether in his absence. Instead, Friday should be used as a warning for safeguard-like next steps.

You’d also want to draft Dalvin Cook onto your fantasy football team.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.