Will Justin Jefferson be at Minnesota Vikings Mandatory Minicamp?

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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

One of the most important Minnesota Vikings’ storylines this offseason is still pending a conclusion, and that would be when will wide receiver Justin Jefferson sign his extension. Jefferson has yet to report to TCO Performance Center this offseason for organized team activities.

However, this really isn’t something to worry about as everything has been voluntary thus far. That changes on Tuesday, June 4th when the Vikings officially kick off mandatory minicamp.

Will Justin Jefferson report to Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp?

There hasn’t been anything concrete as to whether or not Jefferson will show this week to mandatory minicamp, outside NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero anticipating Jefferson does report to minicamp a couple weeks back. Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) via his most recent episode of the Access Vikings Podcast seems to be in-line with that same thinking.

Ben doesn’t rule out a possible holdout. Instead, thought, his guess would be that Jefferson reports to mandatory minicamp and does a “hold-in” instead, similar to what T.J. Hockenson and Danielle Hunter did last year in training camp, before they got their new deals.

It’s going to attract headlines if he’s not here, certainly. And I would look for those as soon as the night before, if it leaks out that he’s not going to be here, that’s probably coming from his camp… My guess is he shows up, he does the, you know, kind of a hold-in thing. Although, I say that, and we have not seen him do that before. Typically, when he’s been here, he’s kind of gone and done his thing.

Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) via Access Vikings

It sounds like anything could still happen this week, including a contract extension. But if that doesn’t happen, Goessling believes Jefferson will at least show up, even if that means pulling a “hold-in”. Even if he doesn’t participate, the Vikings would not be able (or forced) to fine him, since he’d still technically be in attendance.

What if Justin Jefferson does not attend Minnesota Vikings mandatory minicamp?

There definitely is a realistic scenario where Jefferson does decide not to attend mandatory minicamp this week. Goessling noted in the podcast episode that if Jefferson does decide to skip minicamp this week, leaks regarding his plans to play hookie would start to leak out tomorrow, via his team.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Dedicated to Paying Justin Jefferson a ‘Market-Altering’ Contract Extension

There is still plenty of time to get a deal done and some expect a new contract as soon as this week, which would make sense if the Vikings want their superstar wide receiver at practice and available to gain rapport with new quarterbacks Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy.

But even if Jefferson is a no-show at TCO Performance Center this week, it isn’t the end of the world, in the grand scheme of things. Whether it’s tomorrow or next month, it’s likely a deal gets done prior to training camp. If no deal is in place by then, that’s when Vikings’ fans should start to get nervous.

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