Justin Jefferson began practicing again this week after sitting out most of training camp with a “mild hamstring strain”. He had been engaged and on the sidelines throughout camp, even getting on the microphone during the third quarter of the Vikings‘ first preseason game.

Jefferson told reporters on Monday that it was a “blessing in disguise” that he missed camp with the mild injury, saying that it gave him time to focus on his weaknesses.

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It was great just working with [the trainers], and I mean it’s the same staff that I worked with two years ago,” Jefferson said Monday. “So it was just great to kind of strengthen my weaknesses, focus on those things that I really needed to focus on. So it’s a blessing in disguise, but to be out here coaching the guys up and also to be strengthening the things that I felt that I needed to strengthen, I felt like it was a double bonus.”

Now, Jefferson is able to develop chemistry with J.J. McCarthy as the season opener approaches. The Vikings’ wide receiver room is thin, meaning Jefferson will have to do even more heavy-lifting than usual.

But he believes that the time missed will actually help him once the games start. And if it somehow helps him elevate his game to another level, then the Vikings will be better for it.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Justin Jefferson opens up about mindset while being injured