Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson exited Sunday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an ankle injury. The injury initially created concern as Jefferson didn’t return to the game, but an update from head coach Kevin O’Connell provided some reassurance about the severity of the issue.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported that when asked about the severity of Jefferson’s ankle injury, O’Connell indicated that the star receiver was “close” to returning to the game. However, the Vikings head coach did not provide a definitive update on Jefferson’s availability moving forward.
Jefferson suffered the injury late in the first quarter after a defender fell onto his right ankle. He was able to walk off the field under his own power before immediately heading to the medical tent for further evaluation.
The Vikings are expected to conduct a further evaluation of Jefferson’s ankle, though O’Connell’s initial comments did not suggest that the injury was immediately considered extremely serious.
The setback comes as another concern for Minnesota’s offense. It marked the second significant offensive injury the team has dealt with this season after quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
Despite losing Jefferson early in Sunday’s matchup, Minnesota managed to hold on for a 23-16 victory over Tampa Bay. Jefferson recorded two receptions for 32 yards before leaving the game. Through Minnesota’s first three games of the 2026 NFL season, he has totaled 13 receptions on 17 targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
The 3-0 Vikings will return home next Sunday to host the winless Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium.