Justin Jefferson ruled out for Vikings vs. Dolphins

Jefferson didn't practice all week, so this was coming. Friday afternoon it became official.

Tom Pelissero

@TomPelissero

The Vikings ruled out WR Justin Jefferson (ankle) for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

The injury came in the 1st quarter of Minnesota's Week 3 win over Tampa Bay. O'Connell had called it relatively mild and sounded hopeful early in the week, but Jefferson never got on the practice field. Jefferson wasn't the only Viking ruled out, and the punting situation got shuffled too.

Ben Goessling

@BenGoessling

Justin Jefferson, Chuck Demmings and Brett Thorson are out for Sunday. Johnny Hekker will be elevated from the practice squad to punt for the Vikings, Kevin O’Connell said.

Johnny Hekker coming off the practice squad to punt is a fun sidebar, but the real story is the offense. Through 3 games Jefferson has 13 catches for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns. Without him, Jordan Addison becomes the top option, and he's already had a test run: after Jefferson went down against the Bucs, Addison caught 5 balls for 90 yards and a score. Jauan Jennings slides into the 3-receiver sets with Addison, with Myles Price or Tai Felton filling the 3rd spot.

There's some good news buried in here too. O'Connell says Jefferson is feeling better, and the Vikings have their eye on next week.

Ben Goessling

@BenGoessling

Kevin O’Connell said Justin Jefferson is feeling better, but “just couldn’t get there” to practice and play this week. He’ll get treatment this weekend; O’Connell said “I know it’s a big one for him next week,” when the Vikings return to Jefferson’s home state to play the Saints.

That's the trip to New Orleans, back to Jefferson's home state of Louisiana. O'Connell made it pretty clear the plan is treatment through the weekend and getting him back on the practice field next week. Getting your best player back for a game he'll badly want to play is a lot better than rushing a sprained ankle back for Miami and losing him for a month.

It still stings, because the Dolphins looked like a defense Jefferson could have feasted on.

Joe Schad

@schadjoe

Justin Jefferson is officially out for Minnesota Vikings Miami Dolphins feature very young secondary Miami 4th-worst in NFL passer rating allowed through 3 games

Kevin Seifert@SeifertESPN

Justin Jefferson is OUT for Sunday.

A young secondary that ranks 4th-worst in passer rating allowed is exactly the kind of group Jefferson usually picks apart. Now it's on Addison and Jennings to make Miami pay. If they do, the Vikings show they can win without Jefferson for a week. If they don't, everybody spends next week counting how many practice reps Jefferson gets before New Orleans.