Broncos Get Final Injury Update on Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Here's the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings final injury report for Week 11.

After defeating back-to-back quality AFC opponents, there's no rest for the weary or the Denver Broncos. The toughest stretch of Denver's schedule has only just begun, and the surging Minnesota Vikings are up next. 

However, if Sean Payton gets a little luck by way of the injury bug, there's no telling what the limits of this team's potential in 2023 might be. The Broncos have suffered a few personnel losses thus far, but the biggest bites from the bug came in the summer before the season started. 

There have been a few nicks and dings, to be sure, but this season has seen a marked improvement in overall roster health compared to the preceding four years in Denver, which saw the Broncos finish each campaign as one of the most injured teams in the NFL. 

With the Vikings in town for another primetime tilt on Sunday Night Football, let's take a look at both teams' final injury report for Week 11 and suss out what implications can be gleaned therefrom. 

Broncos

Out

• P.J. Locke | S | Ankle

Full Go

• Garett Bolles | OT | Ankle
• Samaje Perine | RB | Ankle
• Ben Powers | OG | Foot
• Jerry Jeudy | WR | Hip
• Baron Browning | OLB | Wrist/Knee
• Marvin Mims Jr. | WR | Ankle
• Ronnie Perkins | OLB | Quad

Analysis: The Broncos will be without only one key role player, but thankfully, the Football Gods willed that Locke's absence coincides with Kareem Jackson's return from a two-game suspension. It's a fortunate turn, as Delarrin Turner-Yell has been abysmal anytime his number has been called this year. 

Keep an eye on Jeudy and that hip. With all the running, planting, and exploding wide receivers do on gameday, a hip injury can nag and come out in the wash in a lot of different ways. 

Two starting O-linemen are banged up but fully greenlit to play — Bolles and Powers. It's another situation to monitor. 

As good as Browning is — and he's easily Denver's best rush linebacker — his kryptonite remains the injury bug. While you can say that for any NFL player, outside of his rookie year, Browning has been injury-prone, as evidenced by the six games he missed to open this season.

But when Browning is on the field, what a difference-maker he is. Let's hope his wrist and knee hold up on Sunday night and that whatever vulnerability is there isn't exacerbated against the Vikings. 

Broncos-Vikings Week 11 Injury Report / Denver Broncos

Vikings

Out

• Akayleb Evans | CB | Calf
• Jaren Hall | QB | Concussion

Questionable

• Justin Jefferson | WR | Hamstring
• Nick Mullens | QB | Back
• Brian Asamoah II | LB | Ankle
• Alexander Mattison | RB | Concussion
• Chris Reed | OG | Foot

Full Go

• Joshua Dobbs | QB | Ankle 
• T.J. Hockenson | TE | Ribs 
• Dean Lowry | DL | Groin 
• K.J. Osborn | WR | Concussion

Analysis: The Jefferson situation could have a huge impact on Week 11. He hasn't played since October 8 due to that hamstring landing him on injured reserve, but he's been speculated to be nearing readiness. 

Dobbs, an NFL sensation (for the moment), is nursing an ankle, which can be limiting for any player, but especially an athletic, mobile quarterback like him. Will it limit his mobility and play into Denver's hands? 

We'll know soon enough. 

UPDATE: The Vikings are putting the brakes on Jefferson's triumphant return being Week 11, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Jefferson won't play this week. 

"Vikings WR Justin Jefferson made good progress this week and is getting close, but Minnesota is not activating him from IR at the 4 pm deadline today, sources say. So, not quite yet," Rapoport reported Saturday afternoon. 

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