Minnesota Vikings rookie WR Justin Jefferson breaks out in a big way
Justin Jefferson breaks out for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon
The Minnesota Vikings took a tough loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Their defense continued to struggle against Tennessee, but Kirk Cousins and the offense moved the ball much better than they did in the previous two weeks.
A big reason for their offensive success came down to having another viable weapon in the passing game. Rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson broke out in a major way in this one, hauling in seven of his nine targets for 175 yards and an impressive big-play touchdown.
https://twitter.com/ESPNNFL/status/1310297576550395904
As you can see, Jefferson was able to shake his defender in the middle of the field to get open, use his speed to separate from the defensive back and create after the catch. That 71-yard touchdown catch and run was a thing of beauty and shows the kind of playmaking ability that Jefferson has on the field. Make no mistake about it, this guy is big-time playmaker at the wide receiver position and could be a huge key for the Minnesota Vikings going forward.
After trading away Stefon Diggs over the offseason, the Vikings broke up one of the best wide receiver duos in the entire NFL. Adam Thielen is still around to make plays, but losing Diggs has significantly hurt this team. However, if Jefferson can continue to be a weapon for Minnesota, thier offensive attack will undoubtedly look much more dangerous.
Jefferson is a quick and explosive player who has a knack for finding space in the defense. He shows elite-level route running ability for a rookie, has reliable hands and can undoubtedly create after the catch. Jefferson is probably most comfortable out of the slot, but he does shows enough ability to be a weapon on the outside as well.
The 0-3 Vikings do not have much to look forward to in the near future. This appears to be a bad football team with a defense and quarterback that will hold them back all season long. That being said, Jefferson is clearly a talented player and his progression this season at least gives Vikings’ fans something to be excited about as we move forward.