2 hours ago
Jefferson is averaging career lows in almost every receiving category:
including yards per game (76.2)
yards per target (8.2).
He also has just two touchdown catches; he’s never finished a healthy season with fewer than seven.
Particularly notable: In four games playing with young QB J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson has just 17 catches for 209 yards (average of 52 yards per game), though both of his TD grabs came from McCarthy.
In five games with veteran Carson Wentz, Jefferson caught 34 passes for 477 yards (95 yards per game), which aligns much more closely with his career averages.
Jefferson has never had to play for an extended stretch with a young quarterback before this season, spending the bulk of his first four years with Kirk Cousins and all of 2024 with Sam Darnold.
Jefferson showed frustration at a McCarthy overthrow Sunday and didn’t hustle after an interception. I’ve had multiple emailers suggest Jefferson is “checked out,” but I think we’re a long way from there.
He had a bad game Sunday, as did a lot of his teammates. He and McCarthy aren’t synced up right now, which is troubling but not unexpected given Jefferson’s training camp injury, McCarthy’s in-season injury and McCarthy’s age.
Jefferson is only 26 and still elite. But the connection between the two and Jefferson’s body language over the final eight games of the year are squarely in focus as things to watch as the sample size grows.
McCarthy is 0-2 at home and 2-0 on the road. He’s also 2-0 against the NFC North and 0-2 against other teams.
One trend has to change Sunday when the Vikings host the Bears.
Strib
including yards per game (76.2)
yards per target (8.2).
He also has just two touchdown catches; he’s never finished a healthy season with fewer than seven.
Particularly notable: In four games playing with young QB J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson has just 17 catches for 209 yards (average of 52 yards per game), though both of his TD grabs came from McCarthy.
In five games with veteran Carson Wentz, Jefferson caught 34 passes for 477 yards (95 yards per game), which aligns much more closely with his career averages.
Jefferson has never had to play for an extended stretch with a young quarterback before this season, spending the bulk of his first four years with Kirk Cousins and all of 2024 with Sam Darnold.
Jefferson showed frustration at a McCarthy overthrow Sunday and didn’t hustle after an interception. I’ve had multiple emailers suggest Jefferson is “checked out,” but I think we’re a long way from there.
He had a bad game Sunday, as did a lot of his teammates. He and McCarthy aren’t synced up right now, which is troubling but not unexpected given Jefferson’s training camp injury, McCarthy’s in-season injury and McCarthy’s age.
Jefferson is only 26 and still elite. But the connection between the two and Jefferson’s body language over the final eight games of the year are squarely in focus as things to watch as the sample size grows.
McCarthy is 0-2 at home and 2-0 on the road. He’s also 2-0 against the NFC North and 0-2 against other teams.
One trend has to change Sunday when the Vikings host the Bears.
Strib
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