The Minnesota Vikings may be out of the playoff picture, but Thursday’s 23-10 win over the Detroit Lions wasn’t short on milestones. Two Vikings etched their names into the record books-one a superstar wide receiver continuing to rewrite NFL history, the other a rookie kicker quietly putting together one of the most impressive debut seasons in franchise history.
Let’s start with Justin Jefferson. Even in a year that’s been anything but smooth for Minnesota’s offense, Jefferson continues to do what he does best-produce.
With a modest 30 receiving yards against the Lions, Jefferson passed none other than Randy Moss for the most receiving yards by a player in their first six NFL seasons. That’s 8,379 yards in just 74 career games, topping Moss’ 8,375.
Now, let’s be real: if Jefferson had a steady quarterback situation this year, he would’ve shattered that mark weeks ago. But even with the revolving door under center, he’s still found ways to make an impact.
His numbers may be down by his sky-high standards, but his attitude hasn’t wavered. No sideline outbursts, no finger-pointing-just a guy showing up and doing his job at an elite level.
That kind of professionalism and leadership doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but it’s exactly what you want from your franchise cornerstone.
And he’s not done yet. Jefferson is just 53 yards shy of hitting 1,000 receiving yards for the sixth straight season to start his career.
If he hits that mark in the regular season finale against Green Bay, he’ll join Mike Evans and Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history to open their careers with six straight 1,000-yard seasons. Evans has taken it even further-he’s done it 11 years in a row.
Moss hit a snag in Year 7 due to injuries, but the company Jefferson’s keeping here is elite.
On the other side of the ball-well, technically, on special teams-rookie kicker Will Reichard is quietly building a case as one of the Vikings’ most reliable contributors this season. With two more field goals from 50+ yards against Detroit, Reichard now has 11 on the year, breaking the franchise record for most 50-yard field goals in a single season. That record previously belonged to Blair Walsh, who hit 10 bombs from deep back in 2012.
Reichard’s consistency has been a bright spot in a year full of offensive uncertainty. He’s now racked up 116 points on the season, surpassing his rookie total and giving the Vikings a dependable leg they can trust from just about anywhere on the field. That kind of range and reliability is rare, especially from a first-year kicker.
So while this season hasn’t gone the way the Vikings hoped, Thursday’s win was a reminder that there’s still plenty to celebrate. Justin Jefferson continues to build a Hall of Fame résumé, and Will Reichard is giving Minnesota long-term stability at a position that’s often anything but stable. Records may not be the goal, but when they fall, they’re worth recognizing-especially when they come from players who are setting the tone for the future.