MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 27: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings dives with the ball for a first down after making a catch in the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Vikings needed an offensive weapon to step up and help Kirk Cousins out of his slump. Justin Jefferson did just that against the Titans.
Kirk Cousins’ horrible quarterback play had the Vikings starting at a winless record heading into Week 3. The veteran quarterback needed more help from his receiving corps to help get his game back on track.
Credit rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson for stepping up. He turned in an All-Pro caliber performance against the Titans. His 71-yard touchdown in the third quarter will make everyone’s highlight reel, but that wasn’t all the good work he did on the afternoon. He racked up seven catches for 175 yards and a touchdown before the third quarter expired.
The Vikings drafted Jefferson in the first round to help fill the void created by Stefon Diggs’ departure. All of Diggs’s early production in Buffalo through the first two weeks of the season had Vikings concerned at how that deal might look in hindsight. Jefferson still has a long way to go to match Diggs’ production on the season, but his Week 3 heroics are a big step in the right direction for the former LSU star.
Over the long haul, look for Jefferson’s production to make life much easier on Cousins and the team’s No. 1 wide receiver, Adam Thielen. Minnesota’s offensive system is based on spreading the ball around between multiple wide receivers. Thielen gives the team a solid No. 1 option to rely on every week, but the overall offense can’t function at a high level without someone stepping up to support him.
Jefferson’s big day against Tennessee doesn’t install him as a permanent star in Minnesota, but it’s a reassuring sign of his ability to blossom into a star over the long haul. He was one of college football’s most productive receivers in his final season, but his lack of size caused his draft stock to dip slightly. Credit the Vikings front office for overlooking his lack of size to nab him with a selection in the middle of the first round.
Jefferson’s development isn’t going to solve all of the Vikings’ offensive issues, but it can help Cousins out of his malaise in a hurry. He won’t cause Minnesota fans to forget about Diggs’ departure immediately, but he can replace him as a star wide receiver in time.