Is Justin Jefferson playing today? Exploring the Vikings' WR's status for Week 18

The Detroit Lions' matchup with Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday night will determine who will win the NFC North title and take the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

While the loser will take the fifth seed in the conference and play on the road in the first round of the postseason, the winner of this regular-season finale will claim the cherished first-round bye and the benefit of being at home during the NFC playoffs.

Jefferson has helped the Vikings win nine games on the trot since they lost two in a row to the Lions and the LA Rams in October. Let's see if he will be available for the rematch against Detroit today.

Exploring Justin Jefferson's availability status for Week 18

Justin Jefferson will be in action when the Minnesota Vikings play on the road against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. The wide receiver is not dealing with any injury concerns and did not appear on Minnesota's injury report during the week.

Since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2020, Jefferson has been a constant source of trouble for the Lions' defense. He has 69 catches, 1,154 receiving yards and four touchdowns in nine encounters with Detroit in his career. In 2022, he recorded a career-high 223 yards in a game against their NFC North rivals.

Jefferson accumulated 81 yards and a score in his last game against the Lions in Week 7. He caught seven of his eight targets in the contest.

Jefferson and other Vikings starters will be available against the Lions, but linebacker Patrick Jones II is battling a knee ailment and won't be available. Also, cornerback Fabian Moreau (hip) and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill (illness) are questionable.

How has Justin Jefferson performed this season?

As of Week 18, Justin Jefferson, who has broken numerous records over his five seasons playing pro football, is second in the NFL in receiving yards (1,479), with only the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase having more. In addition, Jefferson has 10 touchdowns and 100 catches, five of which were scored in the last four outings.

Jefferson has now amassed at least 1,400 yards four times in his career, tying him for third-most in history, with only Julio Jones' five and Jerry Rice's six to surpass.

The 25-year-old receiver needs only 21 yards against the Lions today to secure his third 1,500-yard season, which would tie him for the second-most in history behind only Rice, who achieved that mark in four different seasons.