MINNEAPOILIS — As he walked in the course of the vault room Sunday night, Minnesota Vikings lecturer Kevin O’Connell blocked to speak with receiver Justin Jefferson. He threw his arm round Jefferson’s shoulders, inclined in intently and spoke a couple of encouraging phrases into his ear.

It used to be the type of dialog incorrect lecturer desires to have. O’Connell’s big name participant left Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Kansas Town Chiefs later a fourth-quarter trauma to his proper hamstring, and it’s a worrisome flip of occasions for a workforce that runs its complete offense thru him.

O’Connell mentioned that it’s “still very early” to challenge a timetable for Jefferson’s fix — or if he’d omit any year in any respect — however a hamstring trauma for a participant at his place can also be problematic.

“We’ll get him back as soon as we possibly can,” O’Connell mentioned. “There won’t be a better teammate in that locker room during the time [he is out]. Hopefully we have him right back this week.”

Jefferson, who declined remark, hasn’t overlooked a sport for the reason that Vikings made him their first-round draft pick out in 2020, and he has infrequently overlooked a snap all through that length. Since becoming a member of the settingup lineup in Date 3 of his rookie season, Jefferson has made 53 consecutive begins occasion taking part in 92% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps.

“Justin has done a phenomenal job for the last 3½ years of staying healthy and being healthy every week, which is hard to do,” quarterback Kirk Cousins mentioned. “Even with this injury, it makes you pause and be grateful for how healthy he has been.”

Sunday used to be Jefferson’s quietest pace of the season. Cousins focused him six instances, however he dropped one cross — best his 2nd within the generation two seasons — and stuck best 3 for 28 yards. The trauma took place halfway in the course of the fourth quarter when he stumbled occasion creating a short on a direction.

Coming into Date 5, the Vikings had focused Jefferson on 47 passes, 3rd maximum within the NFL. Their next-most focused receiver used to be rookie Jordan Addison, who have been focused 20 instances. (Tight finish T.J. Hockenson ranked 2nd at the workforce with 31 goals.) Addison, the Vikings’ first-round pick out, stuck a career-high six passes for 69 yards and a landing Sunday.

“Jordan is the real deal,” Cousins mentioned. “We hit on that draft pick. He’s a great player. He’s the real deal. Great hands, runs great routes. I’ve played with some really good skill groups in my career. Fortunate enough to do that. When I look at our group right now, it’s as good as I’ve ever been with.”

Veteran receivers Okay.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell would additionally be expecting to peer greater goals if Jefferson misses any year. O’Connell, alternatively, mentioned the Vikings may just exit in a lot of other instructions in that state of affairs.

“We’ve got some guys that are here for a reason,” O’Connell mentioned. “And the beauty of having [fullback] C.J. Ham and three tight ends and multiple backs is we can reinvent ourselves in whatever way we feel is the best way to move the ball and try to score points.”