Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson hurt his ankle in the NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.
Towards the end of the first quarter, the 27-year-old suddenly left the field for the blue tent to undergo treatment. Vikings have ruled Justin Jefferson questionable for the game, as he left the field for the locker room.
Amid the big setback, what was unclear to many was how Justin Jefferson suffered the ankle injury. Even though it appears to be a major injury, it eluded many viewers on the field and on TV as to when it happened.
Video Of Justin Jefferson Injuring His Ankle
There is no official update on how serious Jefferson’s ankle injury is from the Minnesota Vikings. Nor has there been a clarification on when exactly Jefferson hurt his ankle.
However, a video emerged from the play just before Jefferson’s last play Sunday that shows Jefferson forcing his ankle on the ground and twisting it. Maddox McCloud, orthopedic physical therapist and NFL injury specialist, shared a slow-motion clip of the purported moment when Justin Jefferson injured his ankle.
“On this angle, the ankle appears to be forced into eversion during the tackle,” he wrote. “Differentials include a medial ankle/deltoid ligament injury, syndesmotic (“high ankle”) sprain, or less likely an associated fracture.”
Here’s the video:
Jefferson completed two passes for 32 yards before exiting the game.
Also read: Justin Jefferson injury update: Big blow for Vikings as WR faces major setback vs Buccaneers
Kevin O’Connell Gives Update On Justin Jefferson
The situation with Justin Jefferson has left fans worried, as he is a significant pillar of the team’s playoff hopes this season. Head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about the situation by one of the sideline reporters at halftime.
In what could be a mild ray of hope for the Vikings fans, O’Connell said that they working to get Justin Jefferson back on to the field. “We are working on getting Justin back in there,” he said.
With Justin Jefferson absent, much of the team’s receiving load is being carried by T. J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison, with Tai Felton occasionally filling in.
