By Lindsey Young
EAGAN, Minn. – Justin Jefferson has made the first step to being back in action.
The Vikings announced Jefferson returned to practice Wednesday, effectively activating the 21-day window in which the team can decide to elevate him from Injured Reserve to the 53-man roster.
Jefferson injured his hamstring during Minnesota's Week 5 game against Kansas City. He was added to Injured Reserve Oct. 11, determining he would miss at least the next four games.
The Vikings have navigated Jefferson's absence intentionally and successfully, having won four consecutive games to improve to 5-4 on the season.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday they're "working through" the timeline of Jefferson's return.
"Justin has done a phenomenal job in his rehab. He's still been a part of meetings. He's mentally in it," O'Connell said. "We're going to do what's best for Justin and make sure we're doing everything responsibly to make sure that when Justin does return, he can be the Justin Jefferson we all know and expect to see out there, and I just credit him for how he's worked through it and through this whole process."
Minnesota is scheduled to host New Orleans at noon (CT) Sunday.
O'Connell spoke to media members Wednesday.
"We did open up Justin Jefferson's window. He will be acclimated back in and through kind of a preset timeline that we're working through," O'Connell said. "He's killed his whole rehab and done great things, everything we've asked of him and now we can kind of systematically get him back to a place where we can have him out there with us."