Justin Jefferson skips day one of Vikings OTAs amid standoff in contract talks as the wideout enters the last year of his rookie deal

Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson sat out the team's OTAs amid talks of a contract extension.

OTAs, or organized team activities, are voluntary workouts and team meeting that take place over a ten day period in the preseason.

But according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, sources within the Vikings organization say the wideout didn't show up to the team's facility today. 

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said at last month's NFL Draft that the team and Jefferson were making progress on a deal, but the two sides paused any talks during the draft itself.

Adofo-Mensah added that the two sides got 'unbelievably close' to a deal last season before pausing any negotiations at the start of the 2023 regular season.

While sitting out may seem like a sign, it's important to note that Jefferson also missed all of the Vikings voluntary workouts last season before he eventually reported for mandatory minicamp.

Last season, Jefferson was leading the NFL in receiving yards before he suffered a season-altering hamstring injury in Week 5.

He would come back in Week 15 - finishing the campaign with 68 catches for 1,074 total yards. 

Jefferson won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award for the 2022 season when he led the league in catches and receiving yards.

This year, the wideout is set to play on his fifth-year option from his rookie contract and is set to earn $19.743million guaranteed.