Justin Jefferson’s injury outlook is promising for Vikings; Jordan Addison’s is less so

Little good comes from 230 pounds of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner hurtling sideways into your legs, but Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson emerged Monday morning “feeling pretty good,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday afternoon.

Jefferson exited Sunday’s 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter and did not return. He was evaluated in the team’s medical tent before heading into the locker room, where he told reporters he expected to be ready for this week’s game against the Texans.

“Pretty positive in the early returns there,” O’Connell said. “I thought Justin handled it really well and inevitably came in feeling pretty good today in regards to what it could’ve been like when you get an impact like that.”

Jefferson started compression treatment after the game. Coaches don’t need to see Jefferson practice much before playing, O’Connell said.

“The biggest thing with him is, I know we can get him mentally ready to go,” O’Connell said. “It doesn’t always need to be about repetitions with him as much as making sure he’s dialed in on the game plan and ready to roll.”

Edge rusher Dallas Turner’s knee injury, which occurred in Sunday’s second half, does not appear serious. O’Connell categorized Turner’s timeline as similar to Jefferson’s.

The outlook for receiver Jordan Addison isn’t as positive. Addison, who left the Sept. 8 win against the New York Giants in the third quarter, did not practice last week while recovering from a second ankle injury in the past month. He’s “very much questionable” for this week, O’Connell said.

“Hoping to have him, but also want to make sure we’re smart with him, knowing it’s a long season,” the coach added.

Running back Ty Chandler had a team-high 10 carries for 82 rushing yards against the 49ers, including a stretch in the third quarter when he took four straight handoffs for 30 yards.

Chandler later spelled an injured Aaron Jones, who was briefly evaluated on the sideline. Jones returned and got the last two touches out of the backfield, but O’Connell said he continues to like what he sees from Chandler in his role. The Vikings have primarily deployed Jones and fullback C.J. Ham as the third-down backs, while all of Chandler’s 10 touches on Sunday came on first and second down.

“Ty’s impact, really being able to be very evident to everybody,” O’Connell said. “He’s different: the physicality, and he’s still got that burst and explosiveness.”

No NFL defense has more sacks than the Vikings’ 11 through two games. And only one player, the Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, has a faster start to this season than Vikings edge rusher Patrick Jones II. The 2021 third-round pick got a pair of sacks in each game so far and has already tied his career high of four, trailing Hutchinson’s 5.5 sacks.

Jones, a role player off the bench, has been an important development for a Vikings defense that’s priding itself on depth. He plays a physical style that often bested 36-year-old All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams.

“This is just the beginning,” Jones said. “You all are going to see something real special out of this group.”

The Vikings’ confidence extends to their rookie kicker, Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama. Jumping from the SEC to the NFL hasn’t appeared to be much of a problem for Reichard, who converted all five kicks against the 49ers, including field goals of 22, 27 and 39 yards. He’s made the first nine kicks of his NFL career, living up to the nickname “Will the Thrill,” which Reichard gave himself during an interview with safety Josh Metellus for the team’s media network.

“Will the Thrill is coming,” Metellus said. “The stuff he’s been able to do early — that poise, that confidence, especially being a rookie — it’s beautiful, man. Anytime he goes out there, you don’t have to look up, you know the three points are coming.”

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