Justin Jefferson Ruled Out Early With Left Ankle Injury

Star receiver Justin Jefferson was sidelined during the first quarter of the Vikings' game against the Buccaneers after sustaining an injury to his left ankle.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was ruled out of Sunday's contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a left ankle injury sustained in the first quarter. According to ESPN, the injury occurred during a 10-yard screen pass completion on the final play of the Vikings' opening offensive possession. Prior to his exit, Jefferson recorded two receptions for 32 yards, including a 22-yard catch earlier in the drive.

Jefferson spent time in the blue medical tent and remained on the sideline in his helmet during the second quarter before retreating to the locker room. He did not return to the field for the second half. In his absence, quarterback Kyler Murray connected with Jordan Addison for a 41-yard touchdown pass, giving Minnesota a 17-10 lead with 4:11 left in the first half. The Vikings utilized Jauan Jennings and Tai Felton to round out their three-receiver sets for the remainder of the game.

Through three weeks of the 2026 season, Jefferson has totaled 179 receiving yards, marking the lowest three-game start to a season in his career. This follows a 2025 campaign where he finished with 1,048 yards while the team started both J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer at quarterback. Jefferson's previous significant injury history includes a torn right hamstring in 2023 that resulted in seven missed games.