Will Justin Jefferson Show Up For Any Minnesota Vikings Offseason Workouts?

This week, voluntary organized team activities kicked off for the Minnesota Vikings, Unsurprisingly, Justin Jefferson was not in the building. He was absent from these voluntary practices last year, and there was no chance that he was showing up this summer, especially without a new deal.

Inking J.J.’s new deal has been top priority for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell all offseason, short of figuring out their quarterback situation, which is now done. Yet, the ‘JJ extension’ box still hasn’t been checked off the summer to-do list.

When will Justin Jefferson show up to Minnesota Vikings facilities?

So, when will this deal get done? Well, two weeks from now, minicamp becomes mandatory. After skipping out on voluntary team activities last year, JJ did show up for mandatory minicamp. But contract negotiations are a lot more intense this time around, with the final year of his deal looming.

Still, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero anticipates that Justin Jefferson will be in Eagan on June 4-6, when the Minnesota Vikings gather at TCO Performance Center for mandatory minicamp.

Per @TomPelissero, he “anticipates” that star #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson WILL be in attendance for mandatory minicamp taking place June 4-6 👀

He also noted that Jefferson is unlikely to attend any voluntary OTA practices.

🎥: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/vAfNyiTm6Z

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) May 21, 2024

“Every expectation the Vikings are going to get something done with Justin Jefferson. For the second straight year though, he’s not out there during the course of (voluntary) OTAs. I would not anticipate that that changes prior to mini camp. I would anticipate based on how Jefferson has played this out so far in his career that he will be there (when it becomes mandatory). The Vikings are used to it, that they don’t have one of their dynamic guys out there, and he is looking at a contract that will make him by far the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history.” 

Tom Pelissero on whether or not Justin Jefferson will attend Vikings’ mandatory minicamp

Nothing about Jefferson’s absence for voluntary organized team activities came as a shock. Still, it is a bit surprising that Tom went as far as he did suggesting JJ will be at the facilities in just two weeks. Does he know something we don’t about contract negotiations?

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There is no reason not to get this contract done ASAP, if you’re the Minnesota Vikings. For some time, Kwesi has known exactly what Justin Jefferson is looking for. He’s going to break the bank, and his contract will be one of historical proportions.

The salary cap is established, and the bulk of Minnesota’s free agent spending has taken place. Right now, it’s about signing on the dotted line. That’s why fans are getting fidgety. Who is holding this up and why?

The sooner that Minnesota can get Jefferson working with both Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy, the better. It just doesn’t make sense, on the Vikings’ side, to continue waiting.

Related: Oddsmakers Sure Like JJ McCarthy to Start Week 1 for Vikings

This season will have an even higher amount of importance placed on the wide receivers, with new quarterbacks are under center, and tight end T.J. Hockenson is set to miss a considerable amount of time. Kevin O’Connell needs to see his star WR building chemistry with his young QBs, and any further delay is so unnecessary.

Is Jefferson really going to show up next week without a new deal in place? Or are we finally about to put JJ’s contract extension behind us? Even if he were to show up for minicamp on June 4th, a training camp hold-in could be on the table if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before then.