Introspective Justin Jefferson Recounts Tumultuous 2023 With Frustration, Resolve, and Hope
Will Goodwin
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When Justin Jefferson steps to the podium for his weekly media availability, there’s usually a wry smile plastered across his face or a lighthearted joke rolling off his tongue.
The Vikings’ superstar wide receiver, who brings joy to fans across the state of Minnesota and the world with his jaw-dropping catches and silky smooth routes, tends to carry himself with a similar level of joy and enthusiasm for life and the game which he calls a career.
Wednesday afternoon at TCO Performance Center was different. Jefferson was sullen and introspective. He appeared weary from a season that had taken everything out of him.
“It’s definitely one of the seasons that have been the most difficult that I have experienced, just all around, in general.”
His usual jovial smile was gone, replaced with a furrowed brow and a quieted demeanor. Given the significance and manner of Minnesota’s loss to Green Bay on Sunday night, it appeared he had finally allowed himself to feel the exhaustion that his body, mind, and spirit must be experiencing.
Prior to missing 7 consecutive games this season with a hamstring injury, Jefferson had played in all 55 possible games in his career, starting 53 of them. Kirk Cousins had been his quarterback for 54 of those games. Missing such significant time was a new experience for him.
“I missed a little time in high school that was probably a little longer [in duration] for a broken elbow. But I didn’t really play, I wasn’t on varsity, wasn’t a key factor into the team. Ever since then this has been the longest I have been out,” Jefferson had acknowledged four weeks ago upon joining the active roster ahead of Week 14 in Las Vegas.
For the first time in his NFL career, he took on a more public leadership role this season, being named as one of the Vikings’ eight captains. Although he and his teammates have thrived with him in this role, being relegated to a “coaching role” because of the injury has been a major challenge for a guy who lives and breathes competing on the football field.
Each season, Jefferson sets goals for himself along with his team goal of winning the Super Bowl. This year, he was aiming for “close to 2,000” receiving yards. A gaudy goal to be sure, but a realistic one for the reigning Offensive Player of the Year who had improved his yards totals from 1,400 to 1,616 to 1,809 over his first three NFL seasons.
Seven games on the shelf and four quarterbacks later, he’s had to adjust his expectations.
“Since I got hurt, the new goal is 1,000. Of course I want to end every single year over 1000 yards.”
The three-time All-Pro still has that within his grasp. All he needs is 118 yards against a Detroit defense that he has torched for 364 yards over the last two times he’s faced them. With gun-slinging Nick Mullens at the controls on Sunday afternoon, 118 seems well within reach.
Despite just a 3% chance to make the postseason entering Week 18 – the Vikings need a win and loads of help – Jefferson, the eternal competitor, isn’t giving up on the season just yet.
“Hopefully, if God blesses, we can make that playoff run… There’s a lot of things of course that need to happen for us to move on after this game, but we’re just trying to win. We’re just trying to make sure that we’re playing our best ball on Sunday… For us to come out on Sunday against the divisional leader, for us to come out with a win, who knows what happens. Hopefully we’re back in the playoff race and have the chance to compete for that big game.”
Just the mention of a minuscule chance at a Super Bowl run brought a slight smirk to Jefferson’s face. His words and expression tell you all you need to know about what’s important to the player his peers voted as the league’s second-best player.
Regardless of Sunday’s outcomes, the last six months aren’t lost on Jefferson.
“It has definitely been a team that has stayed close together through the tough times… I love being around these guys and I appreciate the relationship that I have been building with these guys in this locker room.”
Even with still something to play for on Sunday in Detroit, Jefferson has a newfound drive to stay healthy in the future so that he can meet his own goals and be there for his team.
“Since I had the injury, I will always continue to try to strengthen [my hamstring] up to the max that I can for it to not happen again. Of course, I’m trying to work on my whole body for me to not miss any games this upcoming year. Hopefully I can have that full, 100% season and I can have all of the goals I want to reach for myself… I never want to be that type of player to miss games and to be the reason why we don’t have that spark or that extra juice out there on the field.”
This season has been a trying time for Jefferson. He’s dealt with “hopelessness,” and “had to learn patience” and to rely on others as he trudged through rehabbing the first major injury of his NFL career. So much of this season has been out of his control. It’s understandable that he would be worn out.
“We know that we have the talent on this team. It’s just not our time and there’s things that are occurring that we cannot control. It’s been a tough one.”
2023 has beat up Justin Jefferson: physically, emotionally, and mentally. He wore all of that when he stepped to the podium on Wednesday afternoon.
One thing is for certain though: when number 18 steps onto Ford Field on Sunday afternoon, he will do everything that he can to will his team to the postseason. Even if that final outcome is mostly out of his control.
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Notes: Statistics were sourced from Pro Football Reference.
Will is a husband, father, and earned an undergraduate degree in Economics (just like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah). Will’s favorite pastimes are water skiing, Minnesota sports, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Formerly, he contributed to Vikings Territory. He is the co-host of the Load the Box Vikings Podcast with Jordan Hawthorn. Follow him on Twitter (@willbadlose) and find his other sports content at Twins Daily and his very own Bad Loser Blog.