Justin Jefferson won’t be available when the Minnesota Vikings meet the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and that leaves a major hole in an offense that has leaned on him all season.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday that Jefferson will miss the Week 4 matchup because of the ankle injury he picked up in last week’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jefferson did not practice at all during the week after the injury, and Minnesota will have to move forward without its top receiver when the game kicks off at 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX.
The Vikings enter Sunday at 3-0 and have been one of the early surprises of the 2026 season, but they’ll try to keep that perfect start intact against a Dolphins team still searching for its first win. Jefferson’s absence changes the look of the passing game immediately. He leads Minnesota with 13 catches, 179 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
For the Vikings, this is also a reminder of just how important Jefferson has become since they selected him 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former LSU standout arrived in Minnesota after a college career from 2017-19 that ended with a national championship in 2019. Since then, he’s piled up the accolades: 4 Pro Bowl selections, 2 first-team All-Pro honors and 2 second-team All-Pro nods.
Minnesota will be short-handed in more ways than one on Sunday. Cornerback Charles Demmings, dealing with a hamstring injury, has also been ruled out, along with punter Brett Thorson, who is out with a right hamstring issue.
O’Connell said Johnny Hekker will be moved up from the practice squad and handle punting duties against Miami.
The Vikings are trying to keep their unbeaten start alive while also keeping an eye on the bigger picture later in the season, with an NFC North title in view.
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