‘I’m the main person that’s going to make the decision’

Justin Jefferson’s return to the Minnesota Vikings for Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos is still uncertain, as the team announced on Saturday.

Having been on the sidelines since suffering a hamstring injury on October 8, the Vikings wide receiver remains on injured reserve. The earliest potential return for Jefferson is set for Monday, November 27 against the Chicago Bears. With the team’s bye in Week 13, there is a possibility that he will be held back to allow for additional recovery time.

Jefferson emphasized that the decision to return ultimately lies with him: “I’m the main person that’s going to make the decision. I’m the person that’s going out there running, I’m the person that’s putting my body on the line to win games and do things for this organization. I know how I feel, I know how my hamstring’s feeling. We’re going to weigh in on all of the different opinions and what everyone has to say, but at the end of the day, I’m the one that’s going out there,” Jefferson stated on Thursday.

Since Jefferson’s absence, the Vikings have managed to secure five consecutive wins after starting the season 1-4, and they currently hold the second spot in the NFC North. A major change in the team’s lineup is the absence of Kirk Cousins, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles. They’ve traded for Josh Dobbs, who has made two winning starts, throwing for 426 yards, with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

With upcoming games against the Broncos, Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals, the Vikings have a favorable schedule ahead. The hope is that Jefferson will be back in action for crucial games against the Detroit Lions in Weeks 16 and 18, as the NFC North title race heats up.