Vikings Let the Cat Out of the Bag on Justin Jefferson’s Frustration
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson finally had a really poor game in his career, prompting onlookers to wonder whether the playmaker had soured on his team or had mailed it in.
The Vikings clarified Justin Jefferson’s visible frustration from Sunday’s game, explaining it stemmed from missed referee calls, not teammates.
Thankfully, head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed the topic this week, claiming that Jefferson was mainly frustrated by officiating and that no grander conspiracy is afoot.
Justin Jefferson Irked by Officiating, Not Teammates
The phenom playmaker simply didn’t have a good outing.
O’Connell Acknowledges Jefferson’s Frustration
Jefferson did not play well against the Ravens in Week 10, and onlookers simply weren’t used to it. He appeared outwardly frustrated, as well as ineffective, at least compared to his usual standard.
O’Connell said about Jefferson on Monday, “I think there was some frustration, and maybe with not having a couple calls go his way from a referee standpoint, but that’s all part of the game, and he got frustrated there a little bit. He’s so competitive. He wants to make those plays.”
“We’ve got competitors and sometimes that thing can present itself differently when you’re talking about this guy to the next guy, but I have no concerns with Justin.”
Some social media users insinuated that Jefferson was mad at his teammates or disillusioned with football, in general. O’Connell made sure to clarify that neither is true.
Jefferson on the Subpar Showing
Jefferson, too, dismissed any fears over his performance, insisting it’s back to work.
He told reporters Sunday, “I feel like I was okay physically. The ball didn’t really find my hand today. That’s a part of football. That’s a part of life. It’s tough to get those opportunities and gotta make the most of those opportunities. Like I say, we gotta go back to it, go back to work and practice, fix the things we need to fix so on Sundays it’s a cakewalk.”
That was his opportunity to speak to something grimmer or call out his team for the loss. He did not, pledging to improve personally.
Half-Speed Jefferson Was Strange
No matter how you dice it, Jefferson’s performance in Week 10 was strange. He didn’t catch passes that he usually hauls in, and on one transaction, when he tripped over a cornerback’s feet, the Vikings’ best player appeared to stop caring.
On this play, he generally would’ve remained upright, beaten the defender for a touchdown, and Kevin O’Connell’s now-suspect 3rd and 1 playcall would look genius. Or — if the interception were destiny, Jefferson would almost never opt out of the tackle.
It almost channelled a 2000s-level of Randy Moss’ perceived aloofness (at times).
Time to Rebound This Weekend
Jefferson is a superstar, and he can erase the memory of his shenanigans in five days. That’s what the greats do, and Jefferson is one.
Because his showing against Baltimore was so poor and uncharacteristic, fans truly don’t know how to react when Jefferson flounders. Sometimes, unfortunately, players encounter bad games, and for Jefferson, his frustration got the best of him.
He’ll see a familiar foe for the bounceback game in Week 11. The 6-3 Bears won’t care that Jefferson struggled the weekend prior or that he became upset with officiating. It’s go-time for the Vikings if they wish to stay in the playoff hunt.
The Athletic on Jefferson
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic wrote this week on Jefferson’s forgettable day, “The first signs of an uncharacteristic lack of juice came in the second quarter, when Malaki Starks intercepted a deep ball from J.J. McCarthy that was intended for Jefferson.”
“As Starks headed back up the field, Jefferson didn’t give chase. That play could be explained. Jefferson did hit Starks in the air, and officials correctly ruled that Starks was down by contact and brought the ball back. But a similar scenario unfolded in the third quarter on another deep ball for Jefferson. He got tied up with a defender and fell to the turf as Marlon Humphrey intercepted the pass. Nothing overtly concerning there.”
Jefferson remains on pace for just under 1,300 yards this season.
“It was just bad luck and no fault of Jefferson’s that he got tripped up. But as Humphrey started his return, Jefferson once again showed little effort in trying to tackle him and limit the damage. Different players lead in different ways. Jefferson is vocal, but his most endearing trait is his relentlessness, which sets an example for everyone around him,” Krawczynski continued.
“He never gives up on a play. He never taps out in a fight. Sunday was an anomaly in a career that is off to a record-setting start. But the truth is that the Vikings, with a young quarterback in McCarthy, need Jefferson’s absolute best every week to be competitive.”
The Vikings have won eight of their last nine games against the Bears and are favored to win this Sunday by three or four points.
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