Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since spraining his left ankle 10 days ago and expressed optimism about playing Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. "The plan is for me to play," Jefferson said, "But who knows? We're going to take it day by day." Jefferson suffered the injury during the Vikings' 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 28 and missed the subsequent 15-10 victory against the Miami Dolphins. The Saints game holds special significance for Jefferson, as it will be his first chance to play in front of a full NFL crowd in his home state of Louisiana. The Vikings last played in New Orleans during the 2020 season, when attendance was limited by COVID-19 protocols. "Being back at home, being back in Louisiana is definitely something that I want to do," he said.
Jefferson has caught 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns this season, but his ankle injury and quarterback Kyler Murray's Week 1 concussion have limited them to just 18 combined snaps. Jefferson is pushing to play rather than rest during the Vikings' upcoming Week 6 bye, stating, "I hate missing games. I hated missing last week.
I wanted to be out there last week, and especially at home, and I never want to miss any time.".
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing