Bears Defender Delivers Key Truth About Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson is entering his sixth season with the Minnesota Vikings and has long been, at least, in the conversation for the best wide receiver in the game today. That is not by accident, according to former teammate Nahshon Wright.

Wright, a cornerback now with the Chicago Bears, the Vikings’ Week 1 opponent, spent the 2024 season with Minnesota. The Vikings acquired him in a trade from the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.

The training camp standout noted Jefferson’s competitiveness and work ethic right away.

Former Vikings CB Nahshon Wright Praises Justin Jefferson

Wright bounced between the Vikings’ active roster and practice squad, giving him ample opportunity to see Jefferson up close and personal.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Wright told Clocker Sports on September 2. “He practices hard, and I think that’s why you see the results you do see on Sundays. That’s really it. He’s a great player.”

Jefferson has received plaudits from the Bears before.

https://x.com/WhistleSports/status/1950640481450541121

That sort of consistent praise, especially when it comes from rival players, speaks to the caliber of receiver Jefferson is and has been for the Vikings.

The Bears held Jefferson in relative check last season. The four-time Pro Bowler finished with nine receptions for 100 yards and 1 touchdown in two meetings. But as the Bears navigate injury uncertainty in their secondary, the Vikings may have to lean on Jefferson.

Jordan Addison is suspended until Week 4.

Moreover, Jalen Nailor is returning from a broken hand. The rest of the Vikings’ wide receiving corps is unproven, leaving Jefferson to do even more of the heavy lifting.

Rival Coach Lauds Justin Jefferson’s Situation Under Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell

In addition to Jefferson, Wright also praised Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores as a “really good coach.” He cited his usage of “exotic” defensive looks. Still, the Vikings’ offense will be under the most scrutiny this season, and that is where Jefferson and Co. are set up well.

The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen ranked Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell as the fifth-best play-caller in the league entering the season based on a poll of league executives and coaches.

Nguyen also shared an account from an anonymous defensive coach the Vikings faced in 2024.

That coach noted that O’Connell was able to mold Sam Darnold from a first-round draft bust to a Pro Bowler in their one season together. The Vikings’ team speed also opens up their screen game and other receivers in the offense.

https://x.com/FriesFootball/status/1857206884043743658

The coach also praised O’Connell’s ability to scheme off the attention Jefferson receives. He said, “They do a really nice job where they know you’re gonna try to cloud to (Jefferson).”

“They run stuff to basically high/low your flat player and they run cloud beaters to that to his side and then they have really good receivers on the other side so now, you’re playing quarters away from them and they run quarters beaters that side,” the coach said, per Nguyen on September 2. “Then they do a really nice job designing their play-action concepts to create space downfield.”

Jefferson missed training camp with a hamstring issue.

Jefferson is expected to be good to go against Wright and the Bears for the regular-season opener in Chicago on “Monday Night Football.” That is incredibly fortunate news for the Vikings as they figure to lean on Jefferson while they break in their young quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.

Charlie Lindgren and Declan Chisholm Lead Capitals' Early Skates as Training Camp Approaches

The Capitals continue to welcome players back to DC with less than two weeks to go before the start of training camp. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren and offseason acquisition Declan Chisholm were both on the ice Saturday morning, joining a group of teammates for an informal skate at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.

Other participants at the skate included Martin Fehervary, Ryan Leonard, Andrew Cristall, Aliaksei and Ilya Protas, Ludwig Persson, Eriks Mateiko, Mitch Gibson, and Ryan Chesley. Capitals skills coach Kenny McCudden led the on-ice skills session.

Alex Ovechkin is expected to join his teammates soon as a report from Match TV said he planned to fly back to DC on Friday.

After signing a three-year extension in March, Lindgren is set to kick off his new deal this fall alongside goaltending partner Logan Thompson. The pair spent much of the 2024-25 season alternating starts before Thompson emerged as the team’s primary starter, playing in all 10 of Washington’s playoff games this spring.

Lindgren posted a record of 20-14-3 in 2024-25, earning a .896 save percentage and a 2.73 goals-against average. Though he admitted some frustration with his statistics during the season — especially after a breakout year in 2023-24, he told reporters at the team’s breakdown day in May that he was ultimately happy with his performance.

“I think took another step forward this year,” he said then. “Three years in Washington, it’s been an absolute treat. Couldn’t be more thrilled that I’ll be back here in September to continue on this journey with a lot of the same guys that were on the team this year.”

The Capitals traded for Chisholm at the 2025 NHL Draft amid a largely quiet offseason, acquiring the 25-year-old defenseman and a sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Wild for Hershey Bears defenseman Chase Priskie and a fourth-round pick. Chisholm played 66 games for Minnesota last season, recording 12 points (2g, 10a), and saw his team earn 51.1 percent of shot attempts and 53.9 percent of expected goals while on the ice at five-on-five.

With a large salary cap increase raising the price of unrestricted free agents, general manager Chris Patrick saw the trade as an opportunity to add depth without breaking the bank.

“(He’s) a guy who we can have a little control over the contract here, because he’s an RFA,” Patrick said in June. “We wanted to address our defensive depth this offseason, and if you go into the free agent market, you don’t have control over the costs. We thought this was a good chance to try to do that. We like where he’s trending as a player. Again, another guy that’s the right age, and I think he’s got a real good opportunity here to continue to build on what he was doing in Minnesota.”

Washington’s official preseason activities will kick off later this week with the start of Rookie Camp on Friday at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis, Md. Those participants will join the rest of the team back at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for Training Camp on September 18.