By admin 
Justin Jefferson played his high school football at Destrehan and his college football at LSU, and he has spent the week trying to get a sprained left ankle ready for the New Orleans Saints. The Minnesota Vikings’ top receiver is questionable for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at the Caesars Superdome.
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His status is one of several things Saints fans should know about an opponent that is 4-0 for the 11th time in franchise history and has gotten there in an unusual way.
The Vikings’ defense allows 12.8 points per game
No team has given up fewer. Minnesota has allowed 51 points this season, and the Vikings’ website notes the defense has surrendered two touchdowns over the past 40 opponent possessions. Miami ran 37 plays and gained 198 yards last week while the Vikings held the ball for 39:11. The Vikings are also plus-5 in turnover margin, second in the league, while the Saints are minus-5.
Brian Flores blitzes about 70 percent of the time
The defensive coordinator sends extra rushers on around 70 percent of snaps, according to the Saints’ website, and Flores’ record blitz rate has produced an NFL-high 16 sacks and 37 quarterback hits. Minnesota has 101 pressures as a team through Week 4, according to PFF, and edge rusher Dallas Turner has 28 of them to go with 5.5 sacks. Opponents are converting 22.64 percent of their third downs, the lowest rate in the league. It is a veteran group. The average age of the top 12 defenders by playing time is 28.5, second-oldest in the league, and safety Harrison Smith is in his 15th season.
Kyler Murray’s offense has one touchdown in its last 32 possessions
All of that defense has covered for an offense ranked 31st in total yards and 32nd in passing. Since Week 2, the Vikings have one offensive touchdown on 32 possessions, and they beat Miami 15-10 without one. Kyler Murray has completed 45 of 71 passes for 433 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions in three games, and the question of how much rope Murray has is a live one after the team traded J.J. McCarthy to the Giants on Sept. 28. Murray has a 67.1 season grade from PFF on 148 snaps. He is 2-1 against the Saints and beat them 20-13 with Arizona last season.
Jefferson and Jordan Addison are both questionable
Jefferson sprained the ankle in Week 3 and sat out the Miami game, when the passing game had no answers without him. Addison has a hamstring injury. Both were limited in practice Friday and are listed as questionable.
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There is a second local angle. Odell Beckham Jr., a New Orleans native and LSU product, joined the practice squad Oct. 7, and whether he has been elevated for Sunday was not known as of Saturday afternoon. “We’ve been brothers for a very, very long time,” Jefferson said of Beckham.
T.J. Hockenson caught all 13 of his targets last week
With the receivers banged up, tight end T.J. Hockenson has become the passing game. He had 119 yards against Miami and leads the team with 22 receptions. Josh Oliver’s injury put another Vikings tight end on injured reserve. Saints safeties Jonas Sanker and Justin Reid have allowed 30 catches on 34 targets between them through Week 4, according to PFF, and linebacker Kaden Elliss is out with a calf injury.
The left side of the Vikings’ line is in flux
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw is out with a concussion, and left guard Donovan Jackson went on injured reserve Oct. 6. Ryan Van Demark and Joe Huber replaced them against Miami. Right tackle Brian O’Neill is questionable with a knee injury. Vikings quarterbacks have been sacked 13 times, seven of them on Murray in his three games. Saints edge rusher Chase Young has 3.5 sacks. Sunday’s starting five for Minnesota has not been announced.
Will Reichard and Myles Price make special teams a weapon
Kicker Will Reichard is 12-for-12 this season, has made 31 straight field goals and went 5-for-5 against Miami. Returner Myles Price averages 20.1 yards per punt return and ended a long return drought with an 86-yard touchdown at Tampa Bay. Vikings players have won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week three weeks in a row, with cornerback Isaiah Rodgers starting the run in Week 2. The Saints rank 27th in both punt and kickoff return average, so field position is one more area where the numbers favor Minnesota.
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More on the New Orleans Saints
- Drew Brees’ Ring of Honor Day Gives Saints Fans a Lump in the Throat and a Knot in the Stomach
- Will Vikings Have Enough Firepower if Jefferson, Addison Sit?
- Rookie CJ Donaldson Could Be the Saints’ Key Against the Vikings
- Brandon Staley Predicted to Lose Saints Play-Calling to Terry Joseph After Loss to Falcons
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 3:15 AM.