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Will Justin Jefferson Play Week 15?

Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

NFL: Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings

MINNESOTA — It appears that way.

Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell said Justin Jefferson (chest) avoided “major injury” and could play in Week 15 against the Bengals.

Jefferson was sent to a local hospital for further evaluation after suffering his injury in Sunday’s win over the Raiders but was released in time to travel back to Minnesota. The team later said, the star wide receiver was sent to for “precautionary reasons.” The Vikings star receiver ended up playing just 13 snaps on Sunday and was targeted three times.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

He had told reporters last week that he had been hoping to get to 1,000 yards this season after being stuck at 571 because of the injury.

“It’s been hard to adjust those goals honestly,” Jefferson said, according to ESPN. “To have missed seven games throughout the season, especially on the pace that I was going before the injury. It’s a little tough to see Tyreek [Hill] going crazy every single week, to see different people throughout the whole league doing tremendous things. It’s been tough because it’s the first season that I’ve been hurt since I’ve been into the league.”

At this point, the bigger question is who might be throwing Jefferson passes. The Vikings benched Josh Dobbs in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win, turning to veteran Nick Mullens.

O’Connell said Monday the team is working through the decision on the starting QB and will make an announcement later this week.

The Vikings will play the Bengals on Saturday.