Justin Jefferson Can Pass Another Vikings Great on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings will try to get back on the winning track on Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts want to steal a road victory in primetime. A primetime matchup between Sam Darnold and Joe Flacco would’ve sounded like torture a couple of years ago, but suddenly, both are playing well, with a combined 21 passing touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2024.
Justin Jefferson Can Pass Another Vikings Great on Sunday
Darnold’s play has improved for numerous reasons, like getting coached well in consecutive years, maturing into a more conservative version of himself (although he is still playing pretty risky at times), and having an excellent supporting cast around him.
That cast, of course, includes superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Saying that Minnesota’s face of the franchise is the best player in the NFL isn’t too crazy, which shows his worth.
He entered the season with an outstanding track record through four seasons. No player has ever registered more receiving yards in his first four seasons, and he is currently hunting the record in his fifth season, as well. Torry Holt ranks first with 239 yards to spare. Randy Moss ranks second, and a 199-yard game would get Jefferson past him.
The 25-year-old is also climbing the franchise’s receiving yards ranks. In the 2024 campaign, Jefferson has already passed tight end Steve Jordan and fellow receivers Sammy White and Jake Reed, currently ranking fifth.
His next milestone is within reach. Adam Thielen ranks fourth with 6,682 yards, 137 yards ahead of Jefferson’s 6,545 yards. Anthony Carter is third but is 1,091 yards ahead. If Jefferson stays healthy, Anthony Carter should be on the menu early next season, placing him third behind Hall of Famers Cris Carter (12,383) and Randy Moss (9,316).
Thielen was released in 2023 after a decade with his childhood team. Starting as an undrafted special teamer, he became one of the NFL’s top receivers. The well-respected veteran signed with the Panthers in 2023. While the club has been a disaster, his numbers have been quite good, with 1,123 yards and five touchdowns in 20 games, despite the subpar QB play.
He has been part of trade rumors, unsurprisingly, considering his team’s rebuilding nature. Thielen is 34 years old, and it could make sense for a receiver-needy team to inquire about the Minnesotan.
In the 2024 offseason, Jefferson signed a well-earned four-year contract extension worth $140 million, and without any doubt, he earned every penny of it. He has never gone the diva receiver route to complain about the contract or the salary and is a true leader for the organization.
His play on the field is nearly flawless, so good that 80 or 90 yards in a game are disappointing for the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game. Through seven games, Jefferson has already produced 41 catches for 646 yards and five touchdowns.
Only Ja’Marr Chase and Garrett Wilson rank ahead of him, but compared to Jefferson’s seven games because of the bye week, they have already played eight and nine games, respectively.
The Colts rank 25th in per-game passing yards allowed with 242.88, so a productive game through the air is possible, allowing Jefferson to generate some solid numbers once again.
Jefferson will be flanked by wingman Jordan Addison on the outside and for the first time since last season, tight end T.J. Hockenson will suit up for the contest.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Statmuse helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt