after a 14-3 season that fell apart in the first round of the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles.
That is, if JJ McCarthy plays to a level that at least vaguely matches Sam Darnold‘s 2024 contribution in his first year as a starter.
However, the team may be more worried about another JJ – that is Justin Jefferson, who suffered an injury on Thursday, Kevin O’Connell announced on Friday, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.
Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell says WR Justin Jefferson expressed some discomfort yesterday. He has a mild left hamstring strain. Team is going to be really cautious. Different leg from a couple years ago.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 25, 2025
Kevin O’Connell Explains Nature Of Justin Jefferson’s Training Camp Injury
“He expressed some discomfort to our staff between the hamstring tightness in his left leg,” O’Connell said on Friday, “didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so we did have further evaluation done, and he does have a very mild left hamstring strain. We’re going to be really cautious with it. It is not the same leg from a couple years ago, I know that question is probably coming. I credit Justin for his ability to recognize how he was feeling, and the fact that we were able to avoid anything major. So, we’re going to hold him out here for a bit, and then reevaluate him next week when we come back later on in the week.”
O’Connell also mentioned that – critically – this is not something worrisome, and that he is confident that the former Offensive Player of the Year will be ready for the start of the regular season in early September.
“The best thing is we avoided anything serious.” O’Connell continued, “I see no concerns in regards to the opener and have no worry at all that we’ll be able to get Justin ready to go for the regular season.”
Justin Jefferson ‘Avoided Anything Serious’ In Hamstring Strain
There has been some fan concerns that the Vikings are perhaps underplaying his injury, and that the season may be over before it’s started.
But – melodramatics aside – the work the Vikings medical team are doing to monitor this seems far more precautionary rather than anything else.
The team is obviously not the same without Jefferson, although in times of absence, others like third year pro, Jordan Addison, have stepped up in the past.
Nevertheless, Jefferson is the team’s best player, and is the heart and soul of the offense – and a major injury layoff would unquestionably hurt the team’s playoff chances heading into 2025 – especially playing with a first year starter like McCarthy.
In all likelihood, this should not be an extended issue, and the former LSU product should be back on the field well in advance of the start of the regular season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 8.
