(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Justin Jefferson, the standout wide receiver of the Minnesota Vikings, was noticeably absent from the team’s training facility on Monday for the start of OTAs, according to a report from ESPN.
Jefferson had also refrained from participating in the earlier stages of the Vikings’ offseason program, which, like OTAs, is voluntary.
Ongoing Contract Negotiations
Last month, during the draft, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah noted progress in discussions between the team and Jefferson, although the sides paused talks during the draft proceedings.
The Vikings and Jefferson have been discussing a contract extension for over a year. Adofo-Mensah mentioned that they came “unbelievably close” to reaching an agreement last summer, only to put negotiations on hold at the start of the 2023 regular season.
In the 2023 offseason, Jefferson missed all voluntary workouts with the Vikings before eventually joining mandatory minicamp as negotiations continued.
Jefferson’s 2023 Performance and Achievements
Last season, Jefferson was leading the NFL in receiving yards (543) until a right hamstring injury sidelined him in Week 5. Upon his return in Week 15, he racked up 476 receiving yards, the second-highest in the league during that period. In total, he recorded 68 receptions for 1,074 yards across 10 games, joining the exclusive company of Jim Benton (1945) and Wes Chandler (1982) as the only players to achieve such milestones in a season with 10 or fewer games played.
Jefferson, honored as the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year for leading the NFL with 128 receptions and 1,809 receiving yards, has consistently surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in each of his four seasons. His remarkable average of 98.3 yards per game stands as the highest in NFL history for any career duration.
Current Contract Status
Jefferson will play under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season, worth $19.743 million, fully guaranteed.
