Justin Jefferson Being Human Hurts Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have struggled on offense this season. Multiple factors have contributed to the reality. J.J. McCarthy is a young and untested quarterback who has also missed a ton of time.
Minnesota Vikings fans aren’t used to seeing this version of Justin Jefferson, and his return to his superhuman ways is a must.
The offensive line has hardly been reflective of the bolstered unit we expected this offseason. Then there’s superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson, looking just human.
Justin Jefferson Needs a Rebound Game on Sunday
Minnesota made Justin Jefferson one of the highest-paid players in the league because his play has warranted it. If the current results of his production were in play prior to his payday, the dollars would not have been the same. The reality is that Jefferson is going through things a bit right now, and he recently told ESPN’s Kevin Seifert that he’s human.
“Just different things going on in my life and just wanting to get back to that kid phase of loving it. I still love football, but overly loving football and overly loving just being out there on Sundays and making the big plays and just being a part of this great organization. So, just wanting to get back mentally into that mode.”
It’s hardly abnormal for an individual to go through personal challenges in life. While elite athletes are treated as assets to their individual teams, it’s impossible to escape the stressors of life as a whole. For the most part, it seems as though players can compartmentalize their emotions and perform when between the lines. For the first time, maybe ever, we are seeing Jefferson show signs of regular humanity.
Through nine games this year, Jefferson has caught just 51 of his 84 targets. He has 686 yards and will again surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth straight season. He is on pace to come in with less than 1,400 receiving yards, though, and that would easily be the lowest full-season mark of his career. When avoiding injury, Jefferson has also never had fewer than seven touchdowns in a season. Currently, he has two.
It’s difficult to break in a young quarterback. J.J. McCarthy missed all of last season, and Jefferson missed all of training camp. The pair clearly have not yet established a high level of chemistry, and that may have boiled over in the latest loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
At any rate, the Vikings are better going forward if they can get the superhuman version of Justin Jefferson back. That will no doubt help the young quarterback, and the tandem can feed off one another if everything goes right.
They’ll have an opportunity to make it work on Sunday at home against the Chicago Bears.
You must be logged in to post a comment.