Justin Jefferson Joined an Elite Club on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings have had some star receivers over the years, including Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Currently, the team employs a wideout who is well on pace to join them in Canton, Ohio, a few years after his retirement. Justin Jefferson is shattering records almost on a weekly basis.
Justin Jefferson Joined an Elite Club on Sunday
Just a few weeks ago, the former LSU standout secured the record for the most receiving yards in a player’s first five seasons. Of course, he also holds the top numbers in a player’s first two, three, and four campaigns.
On Sunday, he added to his already impressive resume, becoming just the fourth player ever with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first five seasons, joining Vikings legend Moss, longtime Bengals wideout A.J. Green, and the master of this statistic, Mike Evans.
Jefferson added seven catches for 99 yards against the Cardinals, leading the Vikings in both categories. The receiver signed a record-breaking four-year contract extension, paying him $140 million in that stretch.
And, well, he has earned every single penny of that deal. In addition to his numbers on the field, he is an outstanding leader for the purple team. The best example came in Week 12 when he caught only two passes against the Bears because the defense focused heavily on him.
Unlike many other receivers, he doesn’t seem to have the diva gene. He was happy the attention directed at him helped his teammates, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison, register big numbers.
Jefferson once again missed the 100-yard mark against the Cardinals, but that seems to be his theme this season. He has only eclipsed the century mark three times in the 2024 season. Earlier in the year, he talked about it in a presser.
It’s right there. It’s right there. I’m definitely sick of these 80, 90-yard games. I definitely got to get over that hump of 100 yards. That’s definitely my plan. But I mean, if you see it on tape, the explosive plays are all over the field. Not just me, just all over the field. And we just got to be dialed in, all 11, to execute those plays, give Sam (Darnold) a little more time. It’s going to be one of those games that we’re going to show the world what we’re really capable of, and hopefully, it’s Thursday night.
On the flip side, he has collected at least 80 yards in nine of the 12 games, showing his consistency, and the fact that a number between 80 and 99 yards seems low for the wideout proves his excellence. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in yards per game with 96.3.
Jefferson’s next matchup will be against the Atlanta Falcons and his former quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who helped him put up those statistics. The Falcons rank 22nd in defensive EPA/dropback and have allowed the 12th-most passing yards in the NFL, so Jefferson and the Vikings should be able to move the ball through the air.
Minnesota’s star wideout will likely be lined up against Atlanta’s top cornerback, AJ Terrell, which should be an exciting matchup.
Jefferson still has a shot at the receiving crown. He is trailing college teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who is 104 yards ahead of him.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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