Justin Jefferson just wants to win
The star receiver was introspective about his un-Jefferson-like performance last week
By Matthew Coller
EAGAN — Sometimes it feels like there’s nothing more that the world wants than to have a wide receiver melt down. Maybe people just enjoy saying the word “diva.” It is kinda fun. Diva, diva, diva. Yeah, fun. But it’s not always accurate.
When it comes to Justin Jefferson, he has never met the description, yet last week that word was tossed around the internet at times because the superstar wide receiver did not perform to his usual level or play with his signature intensity and enthusiasm.
The captain of the Minnesota Vikings has pushed through the ups and downs of 5.5 NFL seasons that have seen quarterback changes, coordinator changes, coaching changes and all sorts of roster changes. Amidst his frustrations about not winning as many games as he expects, his energy has never really changed. Even in the middle of last year where he had a few games below his typical output, you could still isolate moments on tape where he was celebrating teammates’ success or blocking his tail off. He repeatedly brushed off questions about it and finished the year with 1,533 yards.
Against the Ravens last week, when he tripped on a long pass from JJ McCarthy and cornerback Marlon Humphry picked it off, we did not see him wildly chase after the DB with the ball. That is quite different from the time in 2023 against the Detroit Lions when Nick Mullens fumbled and he raced 20 yards back to get it and give the offense another chance.
On Thursday morning, Jefferson saw an Instagram post featuring the best catch of his career, a leaping grab against the Buffalo Bills in 2022. He added the caption: “I need to get back to year3 Jets.”
In the afternoon, he explained to the Twin Cities media contingent what he meant.
“Just the big plays,” Jefferson said. “Of course, that year I had the Offensive Player of the Year. You know, just different moments in that season. I felt like I was just on a different level. So just trying to work back into that feeling of being out there on Sundays and going out there and just killing it, whoever’s in front of me. So just having that mentality back and just being back to my old self.”
The follow-up question is whether a wide receiver can really control getting back to the level of a 1,809-yard, 128-catch season. Circumstances dictated a lot of production that year, including Kevin O’Connell shifting to a pass-first offense, the chemistry between Jefferson and Cousins peaking in the third year of them playing together and oftentimes playing from behind and needing to pass the ball a lot (Kirk Cousins threw 643 passes).
This year, he’s played with a veteran QB who played on six teams in six years and a QB with zero experience.
“I only can control the things that I can control,” Jefferson said. “And personally, mentally, just wanting to get back into that mode, into, I like to say, ‘savage mode.’ So, it’s just going out there with that ‘F it’ mentality and just going out there and just killing it and not worrying about the plays, not worrying about anything else that I can’t control. Just doing everything that I can control and making the most of my opportunities.”
The receiver position lends itself to frustration because there are only so many things he can control. The timing and accuracy of the passes, the play calls, the defense’s coverage. But it’s fair to say that he can control attitude. Jefferson was asked why he might have gotten away from his usual modes.
“Just different things going on in my life and just wanting to get back to that, that kid phase of loving — I still love football — but overly loving football and overly loving just being out there on Sundays and making the big plays,” Jefferson said.
The reason this feels different than any other time Jefferson has dealt with a down season is because he’s doing it with a young quarterback. When it came to playing with Cousins, it was a guarantee that success between the two was around the corner considering Jefferson’s record-breaking first two years before the historic 2022 season.
With McCarthy under center, there are no guarantees that it’s going to click the way that it has for previous QBs. Sometimes McCarthy has looked fantastic and other times he has looked his age. Everyone knew there would be bumps along the way but with pressure for the team to follow up its 14-win 2025 season, every rock that they hit feels like a boulder.
That doesn’t change Jefferson’s approach to his quarterback. No matter what has happened — even when a Josh Dobbs throw sent him to the hospital — he has stood up for his QB. He talked on Thursday about his conversations with McCarthy this week.
“Even though things are not going the greatest for us and we’re still figuring out some things, don’t let that kind of hinder your player getting in the way of you making the right reads or making the proper plays because he’s a great player. He’s a great quarterback. He’s a great kid,” Jefferson said. “People get involved with the media and hear so much different negativity out in the world. So I’m always going to be that person for JJ to always lean on and talk to about any of that type of stuff.”
We can’t deny the existential issue as it pertains to Jefferson. The organization has zero playoff wins since he arrived. If McCarthy isn’t the quarterback that they need him to be, where does that leave the league’s most gifted receiver?
As always with the NFL, of course, a big game this week can wash away a lot of the past. There are eight games to go and the Vikings could very well find their stride. At this moment there isn’t much reason to talk about the bigger picture until we have much more information about where the franchise stands with its QB.
The takeaway from last week’s game and Jefferson’s social media post is a lot more here-and-now than 30,000-foot view: Losing is miserable for him and last week it was hard to hide.
“At the end of the day, I want to win and I’m an ultra competitor and a lot of people that don’t play this game and don’t play sports, don’t understand the competitive side of it,” Jefferson said. “So yeah, I want to win and emotionally things get heated sometimes…So just wanting a better outcome. And of course the offense…I feel like we should be playing better than what we are.”
I almost view Jefferson's behavior during the Baltimore game as a loyalty punch card system. Every day of the year he's so polished, professional, positive (and other nice p words, I guess). He gets to turn in his card and vent some frustration once in awhile. The Baltimore game was on the house. But now it's time to refocus and perform, and I think he found a good foundation seeing his Buffalo catch.
I always feel so bad for him. He is such a incredible player and person - he deserves better. I hope they can get it turned around.