Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson wasn’t his usual self in a Week 10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The ultra-competitive wideout appeared to be going through the motions on a difficult day for the offense. He caught just four of 12 targets from J.J. McCarthy for 37 yards and saw two interceptions thrown his way.
Jefferson’s body language and effort on those plays were called into question as the 25-year-old seemed off.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell addressed what he admitted was “frustration” from Jefferson in his Monday news conference after the 27-19 loss.
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Addresses Justin Jefferson Frustrations
Asked about Jefferson’s body language in Week 10, O’Connell said, “there was some frustration” relating to officiating.
“He’s so competitive. He wants to make those plays… and wants to make the impact. We’ve got competitors and sometimes that can present itself differently, but I have no concerns with Justin,” O’Connell said.
Jefferson likely wishes he could have another shot at a third-and-1 in the third quarter, where he stumbled, resulting in McCarthy’s second interception.
Jefferson and McCarthy missed numerous connections, including a crosser into the end zone.
“I thought J.J. made a great throw on another one where it was a bang-bang play at the goal line, and we just didn’t connect. It was kind of like that in some critical moments of the game,” O’Connell added. “We’ll get back to work, and nobody will lead the charge more than Justin.”
Jefferson and McCarthy’s chemistry is becoming a concern for fans, but the duo did not get a full amount of reps in training camp, with Jefferson nursing a hamstring injury for most of the summer.
Through 10 games, Jefferson leads the NFL in interceptions when targeted with six on the season.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Addresses J.J. McCarthy’s Struggles
Sunday marked McCarthy’s first two career interceptions in what was his least accurate performance of the season. He completed 20 of 42 pass attempts for a 47.6% completion rate.
McCarthy led a scoring drive on the Vikings’ first possession, but as the game wore on, his accuracy waned.
According to ESPN, McCarthy did not throw an off-target pass in the first quarter and hovered around a 20% off-target throw rate for the following two quarters. But by the fourth quarter, 40% of McCarthy’s throws were off target.
When asked about how he handles the ups and downs of playing with a young quarterback after the game, Jefferson maintained a forward-looking message.
“Just going back to work,” Jefferson said. “Of course, giving him that motivation and giving those words to keep going, keep fighting, not let the bad plays affect him. It falls on us as a whole offense.”
Asked about his body language in what was an off day, Jefferson said he couldn’t find the ball and didn’t make the most of his opportunities.
“I felt like I was okay physically,” he said. “The ball didn’t really find my hand today. That’s a part of football, that’s a part of our life. It’s tough to get those opportunities and you’ve got to make the most of those.”
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