Getting the kid right...

[purplefaithful]

Justin Jefferson used the nickname endearingly but in a tone fitting of a soon-to-be seventh-year veteran who took on a new level of leadership during the 2025 season.

“Young’un’” is what he called quarterback J.J. McCarthy after the Vikings’ season-ending win over the Green Bay Packers, which McCarthy exited early after aggravating an injury to his throwing hand.

“It’s definitely on to more work. On to getting my young’un right,” Jefferson said of his plans for the offseason. “Making sure we don’t have the same outcome [as] this season. I’m ready for the offseason. Ready to go back to work and prove I’m still one of the best.”

Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for his sixth straight season, but it took three quarterbacks and a final push against the Packers to get him there. His 1,048 yards this season are the fewest of his career, even 26 yards shy of his 2023 total when he appeared in only 10 games because of injuries.

Jefferson finished the season with a career-low three 100-yard games in the season, none of which came solely from McCarthy’s hands.

McCarthy got Jefferson most of the way to his 101 total on Jan. 4, but it was backup Max Brosmer who bumped him to triple digits with a 16-yard pass to start the fourth quarter. Jefferson’s other two 100-yard games both came with Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Jefferson’s not been shy about discussing the frustrations of this season and has been equally straightforward about the need to build a better foundation with McCarthy this coming offseason.

He didn’t put too much stock, though, in limited time working as a pair last offseason as affecting their chemistry.

McCarthy was still rehabbing his 2024 season-ending knee injury through spring 2025, and Jefferson then missed most of training camp because of a hamstring strain..

While Jefferson did agree that missed time inherently has some effect, he said the pair still found some opportunities to connect this season. They just need it to translate more in-game.

“Just like I’ve said before, we need to get J.J. out of the little, small bad habits that he had throughout the season,” Jefferson said. “But he’s still young. He still has room to grow. He still has time to really blossom as a quarterback. This is his first real year playing.

“People need to give him a little bit more leniency, but we definitely will go back to work and still put in that work to get where we need to get.”

McCarthy‘s trio of connections with Jefferson on the Vikings’ opening drive were some of the pair’s best of the season. Jefferson amassed 39 yards on those three catches, the yardage total higher than five of his full-game totals this season.

McCarthy said in his postgame presser that he and Jefferson had been working this season on trusting each other and “trusting [Jefferson’s] gonna make the play if I put it to the spot.”

While the two’s chemistry hasn’t always manifested on the field, their rapport has been evident off it. Jefferson never wavered on his public support of McCarthy and often spoke in a mentoring way about the near 23-year-old.

The Vikings will have decisions to make at quarterback, and what improvement McCarthy makes this offseason will impact how they view any competition upon the return to organized team activities and then training camp.

Jefferson didn’t want to get into whether McCarthy would or should be the quarterback in 2026.

Said Jefferson: “J.J. is our guy right now, so my job is to connect with him during the offseason and get him to where we need to go.”

Strib

[Kentis]

On the bright side, doesn’t sound like our alpha receiver is going anywhere!!!

[Vikergirl]

It says a lot about Jefferson. He is not a sulking diva, he takes leadership seriously. Plus he got the Korey Stringer Good Guy award.

[greediron]

It says a lot about Jefferson. He is not a sulking diva, he takes leadership seriously. Plus he got the Korey Stringer Good Guy award.

Yup, he is as special off the field as he is on.  So refreshing for a WR to have such a mature leadership attitude.  He has fun, but is all business between the whistles.

[JimmyinSD]

I am a little surprised that nobody is talking about the mental lapse on that first drive yesterday.   WTF was JJM thinking on that scramble?  First to square up a defender , but then to stand and shit talk to the point of the 15 yarder and then swiping away the ref that was trying to defuse the situation.  I like a little fire in my players,  but that was straight up idiocy.  I want to see my QB be able to goad the opposition into making stupid mental errors,  not make them himself.  He took a great play for his highlight reel and turned it into one he wont likely want to watch with the coaches.

He's got to be better.

[Mattyman]

I am a little surprised that nobody is talking about the mental lapse on that first drive yesterday.   WTF was JJM thinking on that scramble?  First to square up a defender , but then to stand and shit talk to the point of the 15 harder amd then swiping away the ref that was trying to defuse the situation.  I like a little fire in my players,  but that was straight up idiocy.  I want to see my QB be able to goad the opposition into making stupid mental errors,  not make them himself.  He took a great play for his highlight reel and turned it into one he wont likely want to watch with the coaches.

He's got to be better.

Agreed. 

He's got a lot more to clean up in his game than layering throws. 

He's  below what was advertised. Way below.

[MaroonBells]

I am a little surprised that nobody is talking about the mental lapse on that first drive yesterday.   WTF was JJM thinking on that scramble?  First to square up a defender , but then to stand and shit talk to the point of the 15 yarder and then swiping away the ref that was trying to defuse the situation.  I like a little fire in my players,  but that was straight up idiocy.  I want to see my QB be able to goad the opposition into making stupid mental errors,  not make them himself.  He took a great play for his highlight reel and turned it into one he wont likely want to watch with the coaches.

He's got to be better.

He's got to take everything down a notch. Everything is "too much" with him. Too much velocity, too much youth, too much intensity, too much nine. He's young and that stuff will serve him well once he learns how to play QB. Until then, he's got to settle the fuck down.

[JimmyinSD]

He's got to take everything down a notch. Everything is "too much" with him. Too much velocity, too much youth, too much intensity, too much nine. He's young and that stuff will serve him well once he learns how to play QB. Until then, he's got to settle the fuck down.

I have found myself wondering a few times if his crazy velo on passes is partially a response ( conscious or subconsciously)  to the "weak arm" comments that were made at draft time,   and is this reaction to those comments leading to some of the accuracy issues?

[JR44]

I am a little surprised that nobody is talking about the mental lapse on that first drive yesterday.   WTF was JJM thinking on that scramble?  First to square up a defender , but then to stand and shit talk to the point of the 15 yarder and then swiping away the ref that was trying to defuse the situation.  I like a little fire in my players,  but that was straight up idiocy.  I want to see my QB be able to goad the opposition into making stupid mental errors,  not make them himself.  He took a great play for his highlight reel and turned it into one he wont likely want to watch with the coaches.

He's got to be better.

I agree, it was very concerning.  I am not sure if it was a lapse or an act.  The more I have seen him this year and some of his actions, his 9 thing, his comment about wanting to defy the coach, it all seems disingenuous and like he is trying to create this persona.  I remember during the combine focusing on him and Nix and Nix seemed like a total gym rat who would do whatever it took and did not care about his appearance, while JJM seemed more like a lot of what he did was calculated and for show.  Just a feeling.

[Zanary]

I think he might be guilty of acting like a 22 year old male, in the biggest football league in the world, dealing with a huge uptick in intensity, new fatherhood, sudden "mortality" with his slew of injuries, and a sports press that never goes away while social media will pile on (mostly) made-up controversies.

22 years old, and a lot going on.

With the sideline thing, the defender led with his helmet and JJM may have thought it was late...I'm not sure, but he's got more to prove every day. That's got to be huge to deal with.