And Yet Another Award for Justin Jefferson
The awards keep coming for #18.
Justin Jefferson has won the ESPY for Best Play. Take a peak at what the wide receiver had to say after accepting the honor:
Hearing the elite receiver prophesy about there being “more to come” is music to Vikings fans’ collective ear. His proclamation is reminiscent of when he accepted the Offensive Player of the Year Award. During that speech, Jefferson was sure to make room for what he still thinks he needs to accomplish. At the very end, Jefferson simply proclaims, “more to come.”
Now, when it comes to just the ESPY Award, the receiver snagged the honor as a result of his truly unbelievable catch during the Buffalo Bills game. The Vikings released a fantastic video with the highlight:
Paul Allen is exactly right. That catch is indeed a cold-blooded reception. A lot had to go right for Minnesota to successfully overcome the Bills, and snagging that catch was simply one of those moments.
The clip even features a few moments of Harrison Phillips, who used to play for Buffalo. For a moment, it looked like Phillips was preparing to go on the field by putting his helmet on. Seeing as how it was 4th down, Phillips may have been anticipating the need to trot back onto the field in an attempt to hold off a Josh Allen advance. Instead, the defender could remain on the sideline as the Vikings kept their offense on the field.
Plenty of people have been unpersuaded by the merits of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s competitive rebuild, but one thing is clear: Justin Jefferson is a cornerstone player who offers his team an advantage when he’s on the field. Alongside players like Christian Darrisaw, Byron Murphy, and T.J. Hockenson, Jefferson will be foundational for where the team is heading.
In just his third season in the NFL, Jefferson has 128 catches, 1809 yards, and 8 TDs. During the Bills game, Jefferson had 10 catches, 193 yards, and a TD.
Unless something unforeseen happens, Jefferson will sign a humongous extension before the 2023 season officially arrives.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
