Justin Jefferson’s Quiet Season Isn’t About Effort - It’s About the Quarterback Situation in Minnesota
Let’s be clear: Justin Jefferson isn’t playing bad football. He’s doing everything right - running crisp routes, staying engaged, being a leader in the locker room.
But the numbers? They’re not what we’ve come to expect from one of the NFL’s premier wide receivers.
And that disconnect has everything to do with the Vikings’ evolving quarterback situation.
Through 14 games, Jefferson has 66 catches for 832 yards and just two touchdowns - all on pace to be career lows. For a guy who’s made a habit of torching secondaries and racking up highlight-reel plays, it’s a noticeable dip.
But according to Hall of Famer and Vikings legend Cris Carter, the issue isn’t Jefferson. It’s the growing pains of rookie quarterback J.J.
McCarthy.
“This is the first time in J.J.’s career that they can’t attack the full field,” Carter said during a recent appearance on Up & Adams. “Ever since his rookie year in Kevin O'Connell’s offense, they’ve been able to throw the ball - especially take deep shots downfield, off play action. You can see [Jefferson] is starting to press.”
It’s a fair point. McCarthy, while showing flashes of promise, isn’t yet the kind of quarterback who can fully unlock Jefferson’s skill set.
The deep ball hasn’t been a consistent weapon. The offense isn’t stretching defenses the way it used to when Kirk Cousins - or even Sam Darnold - was under center.
Both of those veterans had the arm strength and experience to look Jefferson’s way early and often, particularly on vertical routes. McCarthy, by contrast, is still finding his rhythm in the short-to-intermediate game.
And it’s not just about arm talent - it’s about philosophy. McCarthy likes to distribute the ball evenly.
He’s not keying in on Jefferson the way his predecessors did. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but when you have one of the best receivers in football on your roster, it raises questions about how the offense is being tailored - or not tailored - to maximize his impact.
There’s also the matter of McCarthy’s development timeline. Injuries have slowed his progress, limiting his reps and delaying his growth.
That’s not his fault, and to his credit, he’s shown signs of turning a corner. Over his last two games, McCarthy has completed nearly 66 percent of his passes for 413 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception.
He’s even added a rushing score. That’s the kind of production Minnesota can build on.
But here’s the rub: over that same two-game stretch, Jefferson has just four catches for 33 yards. That kind of output from a player of his caliber raises eyebrows - and not just from fans.
To Jefferson’s credit, he hasn’t made noise about the lack of targets. He’s stayed professional, supported his young quarterback, and avoided becoming a distraction.
That’s leadership. That’s maturity.
But at some point, head coach Kevin O’Connell will need to address the imbalance. Because keeping Jefferson happy - and productive - isn’t just about stats.
It’s about the future of the franchise.
If Minnesota wants to keep Jefferson in purple long-term, they’ll need to find ways to get him more involved, regardless of who’s under center. Whether that means scheming more touches, dialing up designed looks, or simply encouraging McCarthy to trust his star wideout downfield, something has to give.
Because while Jefferson may not be putting up eye-popping numbers right now, the talent is still there. The drive is still there. The question is whether the Vikings can get their quarterback play - and their offensive philosophy - to catch up.