Vikings' Justin Jefferson 'Feeling Pretty Good' amid Hamstring Injury Rehab

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson says he's "feeling pretty good" amid his recovery from the strained left hamstring he suffered early in training camp.

"It's coming along. Just every single day, just working on it. Working on the strength. Working on the mobility," Jefferson said during the broadcast of the Vikings' preseason opener against the Houston Texans on Saturday (h/t Underdog NFL).

Jefferson continued: "I'm feeling pretty good right now. Just inching my way every single day."

Jefferson, who missed seven games of the 2023 season with a hamstring injury, has been sidelined since he took himself out of practice on July 24.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell originally described the injury as a "very mild" strain.

"We're going to be very cautious with it," O'Connell told reporters on July 25, adding that the injury had impacted a different leg than the issue that sidelined Jefferson during the 2023 season.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday that Jefferson's injury was not "a major concern" for the Vikings, and that the team was "sort of relieved he can rest up during a long camp."

O'Connell then said Wednesday that Jefferson was "clearly building up to a point where he's going to be 100 percent, we're going to get him back out there."

Jefferson gave his own vote of confidence about his return timeline ahead of the Vikings' preseason opener.

"Don't worry. Jet's going to be on that field real soon," Jefferson said in a video posted to the NFL's X account ahead of the game.

Jefferson passed for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 games last season while serving as the top target for former Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.

His availability will be just as important to O'Connell's offense in 2025, especially given that wide receiver Jordan Addison is suspended for the first three games of the season.

The Vikings will hope to see Jefferson back on the field before rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy potentially makes his first regular-season NFL start on Sept. 8 against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.