After long seven games, suspense was high as the star wide receiver Justin Jefferson was all set to rekindle the offensive fire for the Minnesota Vikings. What had been an excruciatingly deliberate process of recovery from a hamstring injury was over but much to everyone's dismay, Jefferson couldn't make it to halftime in his return. He was hit hard in the chest mid-second quarter, wincing in pain, yanked out of the pulsating Sunday game at Las Vegas, and hustled away in an ambulance. Frustration was Jefferson's unwanted companion, as he headed to the proverbial tunnel - the hospital - for precautionary testing.
Despite the intense pain, Jefferson’s burning desire to stay in the game with his team-mates flowed through his veins. He had been away, on the sidelines for what felt like an eternity, his spirit yearning to be back in the thick of the action. In his own words, “I’ve been out for too long. I wanted to continue to play, continue to battle out there with my brothers”. The decision to not let him back in the game left Jefferson grappling with emotions and he admitted, “I definitely broke down a little bit”.
However, the 2022 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year is not one to be kept down too long. Despite the disruption of his season, the good news on the horizon revealed that this interruption won't last nearly as long as the previous one. Thorough evaluations showed no internal bleeding, no broken ribs, and no other serious conditions that could affect him.
Admittedly relieved, Jefferson said, “I’m definitely blessed to be in this situation” and that he was raring to jump back into the rivalry, moving forward, for another game at Cincinnati on Saturday.
Although he managed to capture only two receptions for 27 yards against the Raiders, he still holds an impressive record of 38 catches for 598 yards this season. For anyone else that might have been a triumph, but for the high-achieving Jefferson, it falls short of his standards. He has set his sights higher - a staggering 1,000 yards - which with the Vikings (7-6) slated to play four remaining games this regular season still seems within the realms of possibility.
Despite the terrifying ambulance ride to the hospital and the subsequent scare, Jefferson says he remained fixated on his team’s game from the ER, turning the hospital room into his own personal viewing booth. Laughter twinkling in his eyes he confessed, “The people that were really hurt, they probably were annoyed by me”. This is one experience, the charismatic Jefferson admits, he doesn’t want to repeat. But with his limitless resolve and ardent love for the game, it's clear that nothing can sideline this star for long.
