Justin Jefferson, De’Von Achane expected to miss time with injuries; Travis Kelce makes progress

Week 5 proved to be brutal on the NFL injury front.

Beyond Giants quarterback Daniel Jones’ neck pain and Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker’s season-ending Achilles tear, notable players across the league suffered injuries Sunday.

Several of their outlooks were reported on Tuesday:

JUSTIN JEFFERSON, VIKINGS

The superstar wide receiver is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, making him ineligible to play in Minnesota’s next four games, according to ESPN.

Jefferson, 24, camp up gimpy after running a route during the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ loss to the Chiefs and did not return.

“We’re going to have to medically make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way where we’ve got to take care of him and get him back to 100%,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.

Jefferson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has 36 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns this season.

The Vikings are now 1-4 and missing their best player for at least a month. Last month, some analysts linked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, an impending free agent, to the Jets as a trade target following Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear.

In Jefferson’s absence, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, fellow wideout KJ Osborn and tight end TJ Hockenson figure to receive more targets.

De’VON ACHANE, DOLPHINS

The rookie running back has been a revelation for Miami, using his elite speed to rush for 460 yards and score seven total touchdowns over the last three games.

Achane’s knee injury in Sunday’s win over the Giants flew under the radar, but ESPN reported Tuesday that the 21-year-old sensation is expected to miss multiple weeks and could end up on IR as well.

The high-powered Dolphins have enviable depth at running back, with Raheem Mostert off to a strong start and Jeff Wilson (rib, finger) now eligible to return from injured reserve.

But the loss of Achane is still disappointing for 4-1 Miami, considering he’s averaging 12.1 yards per carry and was receiving an increased workload.

JAMES CONNER, CARDINALS

The veteran running back finds himself in a similar situation as Achane, with a knee injury expected to cost Conner multiple weeks, according to ESPN and NFL Media. Conner, too, is a candidate for IR.

The 28-year-old has been a workhorse for Arizona, rushing for 364 yards and two touchdowns this season before getting injured in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals.

Emari Demercado, an undrafted rookie out of TCU, ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries Sunday and should receive an increased role with Conner out. The Cardinals (1-4) also claimed veteran running back Tony Jones Jr. off waivers.

TRAVIS KELCE, CHIEFS

In a more positive update, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Travis Kelce would practice Tuesday after injuring his ankle two days earlier.

Kelce, 33, briefly left Sunday’s win over the Vikings but returned and caught a touchdown. The tight end missed Week 1 with a knee injury and was considered a non-participant on Monday’s estimated walkthrough practice report due to his latest ailment.

Tuesday brought better news for fans of the Chiefs and of Taylor Swift, who is rumored to be dating Kelce and has attended two of his games this season.

“He’s done well,” Reid said Tuesday. “He’s gotten quite a little bit of treatment on it and he’s a little bit feeling better.”

The Chiefs (4-1) host the Broncos (1-4) on Thursday night.