Vikings’ star receiver faces uncertain future

Since the Minnesota Vikings drafted Justin Jefferson successful 2020, the 26-year-old wide receiver from LSU has shown outstanding quality and has go 1 of the best, if not the best, successful the NFL. His show comes contempt perpetually changing quarterbacks done his archetypal seasons successful the league.

When helium entered the league, Kirk Cousins ​​was the starter for respective seasons, but since 2023, Jaren Hall, Joshua Dobbs, Nick Mullens, Sam Darnold, Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy. Although Jefferson remains constant, the concern astir him is not stable.

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Dan Patrick, a sports commentator, expressed interest astir J.J. McCarthy, who was selected by the Vikings with the 10th prime successful the 2024 NFL Draft and named the starter this summer. Patrick believes the young backmost whitethorn not unrecorded up to expectations, which could frustrate Jefferson.

"The bigger representation present is the Vikings, due to the fact that J.J. McCarthy hasn't gotten immoderate connection yet connected his precocious ankle wounded and he's already retired six weeks. Carson Wentz is not the answer," Patrick said connected "The Dan Patrick Show" connected Oct. 24. 

"When you see that Sam Darnold played well, [Daniel Jones] too, and that Kirk Cousins ​​could beryllium disposable to travel back, and that Aaron Rodgers was an enactment ... you chose different direction. And this is the infinitesimal erstwhile you wonderment erstwhile Justin Jefferson is going to say, 'Get maine retired of here.' And I deliberation that's realistic. He has 8,000 vocation yards and this is simply a concern wherever they person everything but the quarterback."

Patrick compared the Vikings to the Bengals, who reached for Joe Flacco erstwhile Joe Burrow was hurt. Minnesota present has Carson Wentz, who is 2-3 arsenic a starter and playing hurt, and the inexperienced J.J. McCarthy successful the 2nd season.

Former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald praised Jefferson:

“I deliberation what Justin Jefferson has done, and I deliberation Ja’Marr Chase and him are beauteous overmuch connected par,” Fitzgerald said. “But Ja’Marr had the privilege of playing with a prime backmost similar Joe Burrow. Justin has done it with Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, Kirk Cousins ​​and others. His numbers haven’t changed. That’s impervious that he’s the champion subordinate connected the field. Every defence is watching him, and he’s inactive making play aft play. He lives successful Minnesota, he’s humble, down to world and committed.”