The Minnesota Vikings offense is back on track after a 31-0 blowout victory over the Washington Commanders — but concerns still linger about Justin Jefferson‘s involvement.
Jefferson has not found the end zone since Week 9 and has averaged just 3.4 catches and 32.2 yards per game since. Even in the blowout victory, Jefferson had just two catches for 11 yards and plenty of unfinished business left on the field.
After the game, head coach Kevin O’Connell said that Jefferson was hiding on the sidelines to avoid being sat out the rest of the game. The superstar receiver did not go down quietly, requiring Vikings security to get involved to keep him off the field.
“He tried to avoid me and run out on the field with about seven or eight minutes left in the game,” O’Connell said. “A collective group effort between myself, Keenan, and a couple other folks, probably Dave Corse, our security guy as well, because Justin did not want to come out of the game.”
O’Connell was not upset over the matter, and maintained that he would continue to try to get Jefferson the ball despite defenses selling out to stop the 26-year-old phenom.
“If Justin has demonstrated anything this year, the leadership, the smile on his face right now, he wants to win,” O’Connell added. “We’re going to find ways to get Justin the ball. He did not play 60 minutes today. That was a tough conversation.”
Kevin O’Connell Addresses Justin Jefferson’s Career-Low Season With Vikings
With J.J. McCarthy under center, the Vikings offense hasn’t had the same firepower as it’s had in years past with veteran quarterbacks at the helm.
Jefferson is averaging a career-low 62.5 yards per game this season, paling in comparison to his 95.6 career average through his first five seasons.
Sunday’s win over the Commanders was a step in the right direction. McCarthy posted a career-high 129.2 passer rating , completing 16 of 23 pass attempts for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
It may be too late to change the tides on the 2025 season, but the Vikings have some optimism that the offense can be operated and could soon see Jefferson return to his former glory.
“I think along the lines of in this day and age where it’s really easy to look at these and say, this guy did this, and this guy did that, Justin Jefferson’s been playing at a really high level. And he did again today. It’s not necessarily going to always show up in the stat sheet, but he means the absolute world to this organization,” O’Connell said. “And you don’t have a performance like we did today unless your leadership, Justin being a huge part of that, remains to drive, remains driving the ship forward and bringing some teammates along with him.”
Vikings May Ask More of JJ McCarthy in Week 15 Cowboys Matchup
Last week, O’Connell stripped the offense down to its bare parts to help McCarthy operate a simpler offensive scheme.
That worked against a Commanders team that has been inept offensively this year, but there may not be the same luxury in a Week 15 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys .
Oddsmakers opened the over-under at 47.5 points for the primetime Sunday night matchup, which is among the highest total points predictions this week.
The Cowboys rank third in points for and 31st in points against — a prime matchup for McCarthy and the Vikings offense to take flight.
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