EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson has played four straight complete games for the Minnesota Vikings without reaching 100 receiving yards, the longest streak of his spectacular career.
Don’t think he didn’t notice.
“I’m really tired of having these 80 or 90 yard games. I absolutely have to get over this 100 meter hump. That’s definitely my plan,” Jefferson said Tuesday after practice as the Vikings (5-1) prepared to travel to Los Angeles to face the Rams on Thursday night.
Click the video box on this page to watch Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones and Sam Darnold preview Thursday’s game against the Rams.
Last season, Jefferson had four straight games under the 100-yard mark, but he had two on either side due to a serious hamstring strain that caused it. sidelined him for more than two months. Jefferson left the Week 5 game early after suffering an injury. He was limited to just 13 snaps in his return in Week 14 when he suffered a chest injury that sent him to the hospital.
With a touchdown in five of six games and 531 receiving yards for a per game average that ranks fourth in the NFL this year, Jefferson’s production as he adjusts to new quarterback Sam Darnold has been very consistent . His impact hasn’t been minimized either, in light of the absence of tight end TJ Hockenson and the previous two games missed for sidekick Jordan Addison, which gave opposing defenses a little less stress.
Yet Jefferson, who reached the 100-yard mark in 30 of 66 regular-season games, is averaging just 5.5 receptions per game. This corresponds to the lowest rate in his five-year career.
“If you see it on tape, explosive plays are everywhere on the field, not just me. They’re all over the field, and we just need to be called upon, all 11 of us, to execute those plays and give Sam a little extra time,” Jefferson said. “So it’s going to be one of those games where we’re going to show the world what we’re really capable of, and hopefully it’ll be Thursday night.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell continued to design play calls and route concepts to allow Jefferson to use his intelligence, agility and speed to get open consistently, despite the constant presence double-teamed safeties on his way. He said he experienced more restraint from defenders against him. Some faults were reported, others were not.
The only pass to Jefferson that wasn’t completed Sunday in the 31-29 loss to the Detroit Lions It was the miss that hurt the most, when Darnold’s third and fourth throws to the sideline went over his head with 2:41 to play. The Vikings were forced to punt on the next play, and the Lions got the ball back with enough time to move into range for the go-ahead field goal with 15 seconds left. If Darnold had placed the ball a few inches lower, Jefferson likely would have caught it and given the Vikings a golden opportunity to drain the clock and hold on for the win.
“It’s just plays left on the field. But it’s no one’s fault. We all have to be involved as a whole team,” Jefferson said.
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