Vikings’ Justin Jefferson leaves camp training with a shoulder injury, will undergo further testing

The Vikings recovered quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​this week after a polarizing stint on the COVID-19 reserve roster, but now they’re without star receiver Justin Jefferson, at least for now. As multiple reports have indicated, the second-year wide receiver was forced out of practice Friday after sustaining a shoulder injury. Jefferson grabbed the arm after falling to the ground at the end of a passing target during situational drills before leaving. ESPN and NFL Network report that the recipient has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint or a separated shoulder and is about to undergo further testing on the injury.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Jefferson’s illness was “nothing serious,” but the wide catcher is still expected to take an extra exam this weekend. The 2020 star, who set an NFL rookie record with 1,400 receiving yards, did not return to practice after leaving, leaving Chad Beebe and new faces Dede Westbrook and Ihmir Smith-Marsette for help replace Adam Thielen off. He was already unlikely to see much time in the Vikings’ 2021 preseason, for the sake of precaution.

While early indications point to Jefferson’s injury not being serious, it is unclear whether AC’s joint sprain will affect receiver status for Week 1 of the regular season on September 12 in Cleveland. That’s not necessarily good news for Minnesota, given Jefferson’s importance to the club’s offense as a rookie. Heading into 2021, CBS Sports named the former standout LSU as one of the 32 most irreplaceable players in the NFL, citing the big-game ability Jefferson brings to a large reception hall without many options. proven beyond Thielen.