EAGAN, Minn. -- Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis for the first time since spraining his left ankle 10 days ago and appeared optimistic that he will play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
"The plan is for me to play," Jefferson said. "But who knows? We're going to take it day by day."
Jefferson suffered the injury in the first quarter of the Vikings' 23-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 28 and missed all of Sunday's 15-10 victory against the Miami Dolphins.
He has long had the Saints game circled on his personal calendar because it will be his first chance to play in front of a full NFL crowd in his home state of Louisiana. The Vikings last played in New Orleans during the 2020 season, when attendance was limited by COVID-19 protocols.
"Being back at home, being back in Louisiana is definitely something that I want to do," he said.
Jefferson has caught 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. But his ankle injury, and quarterback Kyler Murray's Week 1 concussion, have limited them to 18 snaps together.
That's among the reasons Jefferson is pushing to play this week, rather than sit and take advantage of the Vikings' Week 6 bye to continue healing.
"I want to be out there," Jefferson said. "That's the main thing. I hate missing games. I hated missing last week. I wanted to be out there last week, and especially at home, and I never want to miss any time. So it's been a little tough. They've been holding me back a little bit, just not trying to force anything, but being able to be out there [at practice], it just feels good."