The Minnesota Vikings will be without their No. 1 receiver when they face the Miami Dolphins this week. The team ruled star wide receiver Justin Jefferson out for their Week 4 game with an ankle injury.
Jefferson injured the ankle in the first half of the Vikings' 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
last week. He was ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime after making two catches for 32 yards.The two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler has played every game of the past two seasons and has put up 1,000 yards in each of his first six NFL seasons. His absence will be a major setback for the Vikings, who enter the home game Oct. 4 against the winless Dolphins as one of five 3-0 teams.
Watch Dolphins vs. Vikings live on Fubo (free trial)
Fielding one of the youngest secondaries in the NFL, Miami has allowed the fourth-highest passer rating in the league. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 80.3% of their passes against the Dolphins, the worst in the NFL.
Minnesota will look to Jordan Addison to be Kyler Murray's top receiving option in Jefferson's stead. The former USC star has 111 yards this season, second on the team to Jefferson's 179. Second on the team in receptions is tight end T.J. Hockenson, who has nine catches for 76 yards. Both have one TD this year.
“The thing with their team is I got a lot of respect for the other receivers," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said. "I was in that division for two years. I think Addison is one of the most underrated and undertalked-about wide receivers in the league, and sometimes that happens when you have one of the top players in the league. I think Addison's really good.”
The Dolphins vs. Vikings matchup will now be without both of the teams' biggest stars after Miami running back De'Von Achane was lost for the season with a torn ACL.
Dolphins vs Vikings start time, TV schedule
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Kickoff time: 4:05 p.m. ET
- TV channel: Fox
- Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
Contributing: Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Young Dolphins secondary has one less worry with Justin Jefferson out
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