Justin Jefferson Gives Honest Message on Vikings’ QB Situation
After a sluggish start to the 2025 NFL season, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has found his rhythm. The LSU product is hitting his stride, topping 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games.
Jefferson’s resurgence has coincided with veteran quarterback Carson Wentz stepping in for the injured J.J. McCarthy. Since Wentz took over in Week 3, Jefferson has tallied at least five catches and 75-plus yards in every outing.
Jefferson has been in the NFL for six seasons and has played with different quarterbacks. Whether it’s Wentz, McCarthy, Darnold, or Cousins, Jefferson was asked about his ability to adapt and produce impressive numbers despite the lack of connection
“I mean, it’s tough, tough situations to be in, but you can’t really get mad at the situation or get mad at what’s right there in front of you,” Jefferson said. “You just got to work with what you got and make the most of it, and I feel like I have done that.
“We just got to get over that hump of winning and, of course, winning in the playoffs as well. So it’s definitely tough, but I put it on myself and critique myself into getting better every single year and perfecting my craft at an ultimate level.”
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Earns Praise
Recently, former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald applauded for what Jefferson has been able to do with the Vikings despite the rotating cast of quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020.
“I think Justin Jefferson, to me, what he’s been able to do, and I think Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are like neck and neck, right?” Fitzgerald said on a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
“But Ja’Marr has had the luxury of having somebody who’s in the conversation of MVP, quality player at quarterback, and Joe Burrow his entire career. Justin has done it with Sam Darnold. He’s done it with J.J. McCarthy. He’s done it with Kirk Cousins. He’s done it with
“I think that’s truly a testament to being the best player on the field. Everybody’s keying on you. Every defense, every coordinator, everybody’s aware of where you are. You’re still able to go out there and make play after play after play. And getting to know him, he lives in Minnesota. I’m a Minnesota guy. He’s so humble; he’s down to earth. He’s engaging. He just stands for all the right things.”
Vikings to Stick With Carson Wentz as QB1 for Week 8
It’s a quick turnaround for Minnesota after its Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings kick off Week 8 on Thursday Night Football as they face off against the Los Angeles Chargers. Moreover, Jefferson will continue catching passes from Wentz, who will be the starter rather than McCarthy.
“My mindset is to go win this game,” Wentz said on October 21 (h/t Kevin Seifert of ESPN). “And focus on the here and now. I don’t have a lot of time or energy to think beyond this one, quite frankly. So let the future take care of itself, but the mindset is to go 1-0 this week and find a way to get mentally and physically as ready as I can on a short week.”
1 Quiet Reason the Raiders' Offense Has Struggled This Season
The Las Vegas Raiders' offense has struggled this season for various reasons, mainly subpar play along the offensive line and at quarterback. However, the lack of playmakers at skill positions, for various reasons, have held the Raiders' offense back.
Raiders Rookies Must Improve
The Raiders invested a second-round pick into drafting Jack Bech, proving how much they believed in him before he ever put a Raiders jersey on. However, Bech must do his part and work through the growing pains only the Raiders' coaching staff knows about.
Bech and Dont'e Thornton were brought in to be two of those playmakers but have yet to make much of an impact. Bech's lack of playing time on an offense in desperate need of help at wide receiver speaks volumes about where Las Vegas' coaching staff believes he is developmentally.
“The more plays that we can log with the new guys, Jack [Bech] and Dont'e [Thornton Jr.], we can show them the things that they need to improve on and the things that they're not quite as sharp on. It helps them. And there's some pain in that too. There's some pain in there that we have to undergo. But it's how you do it,” Carroll said.
“By the time you get to the middle of the season, these guys should have things really cleaned up, and they should be ready to go and we can count on them and they can come through and not be error repeaters, you know? And that's what we're working hard at."
During the Bye Week, Raiders' Wide Receivers Coach Chris Beatty gave an update on the development of both of Las Vegas' wide receivers. If the Raiders can get Bech and Thornton up to speed quickly, it could alleviate some of the issues they are having on offense.
"Some ups and downs. We have got to be more consistent. Both of those guys are learning a lot. Theres good and bad in everything. First couple of games, Dont'e had an explosive play in every game," Beatty said.
"He has kind of fell back a little bit and some of the fundamentals, we have got to continue to build on. Same thing with Jack. They have done okay but there is a lot more out there. So, we will keep pushing them and getting the most out of them."
