Justin Jefferson, a Minnesota Vikings standout, will be placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings has been placed on injured reserve as he recovers from a hamstring injury; meanwhile, Miami Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane is expected to miss many weeks due to a knee injury suffered against the New York Giants.
The Minnesota Vikings have placed top wide receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve, putting him out for at least the next four games.
Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and there is no timetable for his return, according to NFL Network.
He’ll now miss games against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and Atlanta Falcons, with the Vikings at 1-4 and third in the NFC North.
The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year has a league-leading 543 receiving yards on 33 catches and three touchdowns entering Week Five.
His absence should open the door for rookie receiver Jordan Addison, who has 19 catches for 249 yards and three scores in five games. Tight end TJ Hockenson is another possibility for Kirk Cousins, having caught 30 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns this season.
It ends Jefferson’s streak of 53 consecutive starts dating back to Week 3 of his rookie season in 2020, as well as the first time he has missed a game in the NFL.
With quarterback Kirk Cousins entering the final year of his contract, the Vikings face a huge shift at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Jefferson’s setback adds to the long list of prominent injury setbacks thus far in the 2023 NFL season, with Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson among the most recent to go down after suffering a shoulder injury in Week Five.
Achane, a Dolphins standout, has been sidelined.
De’Von Achane, a rookie running back for the Miami Dolphins, is also expected to lose time after suffering a knee injury in his team’s win over the New York Giants over the weekend.
According to NFL Network, Achane will be out for’multiple weeks’ as a result of the issue.
Achane scored on a 76-yard run in the game and finished with 151 yards on 11 carries, bringing his season total to seven through five weeks.
The third-round pick leads Miami with 460 rushing yards and five touchdowns, as well as nine catches for 67 yards and two end zone excursions, proving to be a natural fit in Mike McDaniel’s offense.
Raheem Mostert leads the Dolphins with 58 carries this season, accumulating 314 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Vera-Tucker is done for the year.
The New York Jets’ offensive tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker will also miss the rest of the season due to a torn Achilles.
Vera-Tucker, 24, was hurt during the Denver Broncos’ 31-21 victory on Sunday. The Jets were initially optimistic that their 2021 first-round pick (14th overall) had simply damaged his calf.
However, coach Robert Saleh told reporters Monday afternoon that the MRI revealed an Achilles rupture.
“We’re all kind of surprised, because he played a play on it, he walked off on his own power, he walked to the locker room on his own power, so we were pretty optimistic that that part of it was going to be OK,” Saleh told reporters. “It’s a setback. I feel horrible for him once more.”
Vera-Tucker’s season has been cut short for the second year in a row, having played seven games in 2022 before sustaining a torn triceps.
Vera-Tucker has started all 28 of his New York games, including the first five this season. He started the season at right guard before moving to right tackle in Week 3.
Max Mitchell, the Jets’ backup right tackle, might start against the Philadelphia Eagles (5-0) on Sunday.
