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Kevin Seifert
EAGAN, Minn. — With his team mired in a 4-8 record, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is facing yet another year without making a playoff run.
That realization sunk in during Sunday’s 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, as Jefferson spent part of the fourth quarter sitting despondently on a water cooler and then skipping his postgame news conference for the first time in his career.
Speaking Thursday to local reporters, Jefferson said that «the frustration and the emotions definitely were high after the game,» but he stopped well short of indicating that he is concerned about the team’s long-term direction. Amid six starts from second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and one from rookie Max Brosmer, Jefferson is set to finish his sixth season without a playoff win. But he demurred Thursday when asked whether he is worried that the Vikings are wasting the prime of his career.
«No, I wouldn’t say wasted,» Jefferson said. «Obviously it’s a difficult season. It’s probably one of the most difficult seasons just off of the circumstances, having a young quarterback, having a different team, having young players on the team. So it’s just one of those years. Not every year is going to be a top-tier year for me. It’s really a part of the game, so it’s just all on me to expect a lot from these guys and to improve on anything that we need to improve on as an offense.»
Jordan [Addison] and some of our other players to have a chance to impact the game. And then, when they get those chances, we know that good things will happen.
«But it takes much more than just calling plays for them or having sequences in the games where they can have a high level of impact, because this game requires 10 other guys to operate at a standard to allow that to happen. And that’s what we’ve got to strive to have happen. And Justin plays a huge role in that as one of our captains.»
