Three years ago today, Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson made the catch of his life in a f—kin’ nutty upset of the Bills. He used the anniversary of that unforgettable moment to commit to rediscovering the magic of 2022.
Via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Jefferson told reporters that he’s “trying to work back” to that level. Jefferson calls it “savage mode,” complete with an “F-it mentality.”
“Just going out there and just killing it, and not worrying about the plays, not worrying about anything else,” Jefferson said.
He was asked how and why he’s gotten away from that mindset. His short answer: “Life.”
Here’s the longer explanation.
“Just different things going on in my life and just wanting to get back to that kid phase of loving it,” Jefferson said. “I still love football, but overly loving football and overly loving just being out there on Sundays and making the big plays and just being a part of this great organization. So, just wanting to get back mentally into that mode.”
It’s easy to overly love football when football is going well. It was in 2022. And it was in 2024. This year, the Vikings are 4-5 and teetering. They face critical games over the next two weekends against the Bears and Packers. Lose both, and it’s likely lights out on the 2025 season, the sixth of Jefferson’s carrer.
Jefferson also addressed his apparent lack of effort to make a tackle after an interception on a deep ball thrown his way in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens.
“I want to win,” Jefferson said. “I’m not really mad at the situation that I’m in or I’m not mad at the players that we have or the plays that’s being called. Of course, I’m mad after an interception. You want me to be happy and go chase them down? That’s not really something that I want to happen.”
He wants wins to happen. Too often this year, the Vikings are not.
“Of course, the outcome of the game is us losing, and I was the one that’s getting thrown that ball and it is getting picked off,” Jefferson said. “So, a lot of emotion goes towards that. But at the end of the day, I want to win, and I’m an ultra-competitor, and a lot of people that don’t play this game and don’t play sports don’t understand the competitive side of it. So yeah, I want to win, and emotionally, things get heated sometimes and things weren’t going our way at that moment. So, just wanting a better outcome. And of course, the offense that we have, I feel like we should be playing better than what we are.”
So why aren’t they? If the Vikings knew how to quickly fix it, they would. The reality is that they opted not to keep guys like Sam Darnold (who’s team is 7-2) and Daniel Jones (who’s team is 8-2) in order to develop J.J. McCarthy. And there are growing pains, literally and figuratively.
Jefferson nevertheless vouched for McCarthy on Thursday, calling him a “a great player,” “a great quarterback, and “a great kid.” All that may be true, but Jefferson is currently looking for someone who is and will be one thing and one thing only.
A winner.
On Sunday, McCarthy gets his fifth chance to prove that he’s on the right track to becoming that.
There is some positive news on the injury front for the Vikings.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice after he was limited on Wednesday.
McCarthy is dealing with a minor injury to his right hand after hitting it on a helmet late in the loss to the Ravens.
In his four games this season, McCarthy has completed 53.7 percent of his passes for 692 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s also rushed for 110 yards with two TDs.
While left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) was full on Wednesday, he did not practice on Thursday. But that has been his usual practice cadence.
Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) did not practice after he was limited on Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) was upgraded to a limited participant after he didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Guard Will Fries (calf) and offensive tackle Justin Skule (shoulder) were upgraded from limited to full.
Running back Aaron Jones (shoulder/toe), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), safety Josh Metellus (foot), and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) all remained limited.
Safety Theo Jackson (concussion) remained full.
The Bears had their top two wide receivers back on the field for Thursday’s practice.
DJ Moore (shoulder) and Rome Odunze (ankle) were both listed as limited participants as the Bears continued their preparations for Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Moore and Odunze have appeared on injury reports several times this season, but neither player has missed a game.
Safety Jaquan Brisker (back), linebacker T.J. Edwards (hand, hamstring), guard Joe Thuney (rest), and wide receiver Jahdae Walker did not practice on Thursday.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) was a full participant after missing Wednesday’s practice. Defensive back Josh Blackwell (concussion), linebacker Ruben Hippolyte (knee), tight end Cole Kmet (back), defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (ankle), and running back D’Andre Swift (hip) were also full participants.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was limited at Wednesday’s practice. McCarthy wore a bandage on his injured right hand for extra protection.
“He hit it on a helmet at one point, late in the game,” coach Kevin O’Connell said, via Will Ragatz of SI.com. “Everything’s checked out. . . . Don’t see that affecting his week of preparation very much at all.”
McCarthy, who missed five games with an ankle injury before returning to start the past two, remains on track to start Sunday’s game against the Bears.
The Vikings were without outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) at Wednesday’s practice.
Offensive guard Will Fries (calf), running back Aaron Jones Sr. (shoulder/toe), center Ryan Kelly (concussion), safety Josh Metellus (foot), tight end Josh Oliver (foot), offensive tackle Justin Skule (shoulder), safety Harrison Smith (rest) and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (neck) were limited.
Bears wide receivers Rome Odunze (ankle) and DJ Moore (shoulder) did not practice on Wednesday.
It marks the fifth consecutive Wednesday practice that Moore has missed. He was listed with hip and groin injuries in Weeks 7, 9 and 10, and only the hip in Week 8. Odunze has missed three consecutive Wednesday practices with a heel injury in Week 9 and heel and ankle injuries in Week 10.
Wide receiver Jahdae Walker (concussion) also was out of practice.
Three starting defensive backs missed the session as well. Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (shoulder) and safety Jaquan Brisker (back) were injured in Sunday’s win over the Giants, and safety Kevin Byard had a rest day on Wednesday.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards (hamstring) missed a fourth consecutive practice.
Tight end Cole Kmet (back), defensive lineman Dominique Robinson (ankle) and running back D’Andre Swift (hip) were limited.
