As a receiver, 22-year-old Justin Jefferson has now tied Hall of Famers Randy Moss and Cris Carter in number of NFC Offensive Player of the Month awards with one.
Vikings' Justin Jefferson named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November
Jefferson had 24 receptions, three touchdowns and a league-leading 464 yards in four games. He showed off his throwing arm, too.
December 3, 2021 at 2:56AM
As a thrower? Well, he has a higher passer rating than Kirk Cousins. (And Aaron Rodgers, for that matter).
"For real?" Jefferson asked.
Yep. It's 106.2. Kirk's is 105.3.
Quarterback controversy?!
"They might as well sign me to a new contract now," Jefferson joked Thursday, when he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. "Might as well get some more money while I can."
On a serious note, Jefferson's arm is becoming yet another thing defenses must beware of when game-planning for him.
His on-the-money, 24-yard completion to Dalvin Cook in Sunday's loss at San Francisco moved Jefferson into a tie for second place in Vikings history in passes thrown by a non-quarterback in a season.
Running back Alfred Anderson went 3 for 7 for 95 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in 1984. Receiver Jerry Reichow went 0 for 3 in 1961, and Moss went 1 for 3 for 13 yards and a touchdown in 2002.
Jefferson, who didn't attempt a pass as a rookie, has completed 2 of 3 passes for 35 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him one fewer interception than Moss.
"I'll try not to throw an interception," Jefferson said with a laugh.
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said he trusts not only Jefferson's throwing ability but also his decision-making when the ball is in his hands on a trick play.
"He has a lot of talents," Kubiak said. "We just have to keep using them."
For a guy who started November being essentially ignored by his own offense, Jefferson sure did finish the month strong.
He had 24 receptions, three touchdowns and a league-leading 464 yards in four games. In franchise history, only Moss has had more yards in a month, posting 510 in 2000 and 473 in 1998.
Not a bad month for Jefferson considering the back-to-back losses on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 in which he was targeted only nine times with five catches for 90 yards.
"That's how it happens sometimes," Jefferson said. "I got the ball a little bit more. I'm glad I made the most of those."
After an eight-catch, 169-yard, two-touchdown day against the Packers Nov. 21, Jefferson grabbed four of his nine targets Sunday against the 49ers. His body language after some of Cousins' incompletions to him are a constant source of discussion on social media. Jefferson doesn't seem to care.
"It's all about knowing who you really are," he said. "A lot of people in this building know what type of player I am, what type of person I am. So me being a diva or wanting too much, that's not in my character. That's not who I am.
"I just love to win, love to compete, love to be a part of this game. I don't worry too much about the outside noise. … It's all really the connection between me and Kirk, at the end of the day. As long as me and him are on the same page, we're good."
As for his arm, Jefferson said throwing the ball takes him back to his Little League days in Louisiana.
"I really get excited [when it's called]," Jefferson said. "I try not to show it too much."
Jefferson's older brother, Jordan, played quarterback at LSU. Asked if Jordan critiques his passing game, Justin said, "He tries to … but I get it to the spot so he can't say too much."
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
