Latest MN Vikings Injury Updates Bring Good News for Decimated Offense

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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings team is less than a week from their preseason debut. J.J. McCarthy has already been confirmed to start that game, and it could be his only exhibition exposure of the year.

Meanwhile, the Vikings’ 2025 regular season opener on Monday Night Football in Chicago against the Bears looms large on September 8. Minnesota, whose offense has been somewhat ravaged by minor injuries to start training camp, needs to be healthy and ready to go before then.

Unfortunately, they are not there yet. The Vikings invested in multiple players this offseason, who came in with major questions surrounding their health. Toss them in with those already on the roster with injury concerns, and there is plenty of reason to worry. Thankfully, the most recent updates are mostly positive.

Minnesota Vikings injury update No. 1: Justin Jefferson

The Minnesota Vikings injury that fans and media are paying closest attention to, understandably, is that of superstar wide receiver, Justin Jefferson. The 25-year-old former 1st round pick has been dealing with a mild hamstring strain and and hasn’t participated at training camp in two weeks.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell provided an update on Wednesday, and while he wouldn’t commit to any sort of return timeline for his highly compensated superstar, it sounds as though Jefferson’s return is getting growing in imminence.

“Ideally, you’d love to get him, I’d love for him to practice today if we could. We’ll continue kind of ramping him up and you guys have seen him. If he’s not running to try to tackle me before practice today, which has kind of been a normal occurrence, he certainly looks healthy when he’s trying to tackle me pre-practice here. He’s clearly building back up to a point where he’s 100%, we’re going to get him back out there.”

Kevin O’Connell

Related: 4 Wide Receivers that Vikings Should Consider

In 2023 Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury against the Chicago Bears and wound up playing just 10 games (nine starts). Outside of that, Justin has remained mostly healthy through the first five seasons of his NFL career.

Last season, Jefferson posted 1,533 yards and ten touchdowns on 103 receptions across 17 games. Once again he will be leaned on as a focal part of the offense. If you have watched the clips of Justin Jefferson, you might wonder why he isn’t in pads.

With new quarterback J.J. McCarthy under center, and second option Jordan Addison suspended for the Minnesota Vikings’ first three games of the 2025 regular season, the offense cannot afford to be without its No. 1 weapon.

TJ Hockenson, MN Vikings OL getting healthier

Justin Jefferson is not the only player on the offensive side of the ball dealing with an injury for the Minnesota Vikings. Local inside Darren “Doogie” Wolfson shed light on some of those situations earlier this week, during his regular Tuesday appearance on SKOR North.

“On Christian Darrisaw, it’s trending [up]. I get it there’s still some boxes to check. Let’s see how he gets through next week, joint practices with the Patriots in particular, but certainly encouraging

Will Fries, slowly building back up, all of his conditioning. Ryan Kelly, elbow ok. I haven’t heard that’s some sort of long setback. T.J. Hockenson…I have not heard that the Hock injury is anything long term.”

Darren Wolfson – Skor North

Related: Former MN Vikings First Round Pick Retires

On Wednesday afternoon, Wolfson was proven correct on multiple injury fronts. TJ Hockenson returned to practice and participated in both team and individual drills. He did sit out some, as he works his way back to full-participation, but clearly he’s nearing full-health. (Emily Leiker – Star Tribune).

Hockenson, who has not played a full season in any of his three years with the Vikings. Acquired via mid-season trade back in 2022, the former Iowa standout has played in 35 of 44 possible games in purple, showing that staying on the field for 17-straight contests is a realistic goal.

Key starting offensive linemen — LT Christian Darrisaw (torn knee) and and RG Will Fries (broken arm) — have been back in the practice mix for a week or more, as both bigs continue their respective comebacks from injuries that derailed their 2024 seasons.

Latest on Ryan Kelly injury, others

Unless there’s a setback in either case, both are expected to start week one of the regular season, in Chicago. Wolfson’s update on new center Ryan Kelly (elbow) was positive. He seems to be the furthest out from a return to practicing with Minnesota’s first team.

According to Kevin Seifert (ESPN), Kelly participated in Wednesday’s walkthrough segment of practice, but sat out everything else. Sixth round draft pick Gavin Bartholomew and new OL signee, Matt Nelson, will both miss substantial time with their injuries.

Center Ryan Kelly (elbow) participated in the walk-through but not practice. He continued to be replaced by second-year center Michael Jurgens.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

Related: 4 Wide Receivers that Vikings Should Consider

Bartholomew has been out since early OTAs, shortly after the Vikings drafted him, and Nelson (who was just picked up on July 31) suffered a bicep tear (per Wolfson) during night practice on Monday.

Ultimately, it’s good that the injuries suffered during Minnesota Vikings training camp don’t seem to be substantial, at this point. This team need as much talent at their disposal as possible, come September 8, on Monday Night Football.

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