WATCH: Justin Jefferson takes over commentary as JJ McCarthy unleashes 45-yard TD pass
Justin Jefferson may not be playing today, but he has been an excited spectator at today's preseason game between his Minnesota Vikings and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Early in the third quarter, rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy threw this 45-yard touchdown to Trishton Jackson. The NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback was at the time on commentary when it happened, and he ran onto the field to celebrate:
Jefferson had also called Levi Drake Rodriguez's sack:
The Vikings would eventually take the lead via a 33-yard touchdown by Trent Sherfield Sr.
Justin Jefferson being cautious about hamstring
Even as he sits out the preseason, Justin Jefferson is still being mindful about his physical wellbeing. Last week, he got two days off. He was back on Friday and continued to shrug off the aftereffects of the hamstring injury that knocked him out of seven games last season.
Speaking to ESPN last week, he said:
"I'm so scared for it to happen again that I've been overly cautious about it. Just trying to take care of my body in the right way, trying to find new things that I can implement in my day-to-day life that can better help me throughout the season. I've definitely been working on my hamstrings a little bit more, making sure that I'm injury-proof."
Jefferson has faith that his fears will eventually dissipate:
"I'll get to the point where I feel like I'm not going to think of it again, just because I feel like I'm going to push it to where it's way strong enough for it not to happen again. It's all about having the confidence in it and I can go out there and play freely."
Meanwhile, head coach Kevin O'Connell said his star wideout learned "a lot about his body" and needed the right kind of progression throughout training camp. It is meant to minimize his risk of aggravating the injury:
"It's more a matter of the dialogue that he has with [vice president of player health and performance Tyler Williams] and myself and making sure that our plan for him as we progress forward through the month of August has him, in his prime, optimal, physical football shape and ready to roll while also still tactically getting him prepared."
As of this writing, the Raiders have regained the lead via a 23-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson.