Justin Jefferson isn't sure why the Minnesota Vikings offense has ranked among the NFL's worst all season. But speaking Thursday for the first time since his frustrations overflowed during a 19-15 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, the star wide receiver said: "We've got to figure out that answer and figure it out fast." Entering Week 9, the Vikings rank 27th in the NFL in expected points added (minus-33.45), 27th in offensive points scored per game (19) and 29th in yards gained per game (279.4). Jefferson has managed just 28 catches for 335 yards, far below league leaders, and couldn't hide his exasperation Sunday in Detroit as quarterback Kyler Murray failed to deliver accurate passes to open receivers.
He declined to speak with reporters afterward. "It was wanting to win," Jefferson said, "and I felt like we had plenty of opportunities to win that game and we only hurt ourselves in multiple ways. It's just wanting better from the whole entire offense especially. And I feel like the potential and the guys that we have in that room is something very, very special.
I feel like we're wasting that if not going out there executing the plays that we have called and just not living to that standard that we feel like we live up to every single day." On Wednesday, Murray was ruled out for Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills because of a strained hamstring, with backup Carson Wentz tabbed to start. But Jefferson issued a strong message of support for Murray's return to the lineup. "I feel like Kyler has continued to grow," Jefferson said. "I feel like Kyler is continuing to get comfortable with this offense. And I feel like the plays that are there are plays that he's well capable of making.
And those are plays that we've seen him make multiple times throughout the season, throughout practice and in training camp as well. So we definitely have faith in him. We have confidence in him to go out there and be that guy that we need him and want him to be." But all in all, it's just executing our plays and just coming ready to play.
And I feel like once he's back out there and he gets more comfortable with the system, more comfortable with just throwing to these different type of receivers, then I feel like he's going to look a lot better in [reporters'] eyes. But we see that every single day. We see that type of Kyler that we need out there on Sundays every single day.
So just bringing that on Sundays. We're behind him. We're confident in him, so we just going to keep riding with him." In his seventh season with Minnesota, Jefferson has yet to win a playoff game.
The Vikings have positioned themselves well with a 6-1 start, but Jefferson made clear that the offense needs to improve quickly or risk squandering that record. "I'm pretty sure all of you guys have looked at it as well and have seen the amount of potential plays that we had out there," he said. "That's kind of been throughout the season so far. It's just trying to be better on offense and try to figure it out fast before it gets too late, and it gets to the postseason and we're looking back on ifs and what-ifs and should haves.".
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing