Inept quarterback play marred the Minnesota Vikings‘ last season. Consequently, star wideout Justin Jefferson’s Griddy performances in the end zone were sparse.
As this year’s training camp countdown reaches its final stretch, the Vikings face a quarterback battle between J.J. McCarthy and offseason addition Kyler Murray. Many around the NFL believe Murray is the favorite to win the competition. Statistically, Murray is the superior and more experienced quarterback. Meanwhile, McCarthy, albeit a small sample size, finished last season with the worst passer rating (72.6) by a quarterback with 10 or more starts.
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McCarthy’s slow start hasn’t discouraged head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings from insisting there’s a true competition in Minnesota, but Jefferson believes Murray’s experience gives him a little advantage.
“Yeah, for sure. He’s going into year eight, and J.J. is going into year three. So, it’s a little bit different. The vet in Kyler is always gonna maybe stick out a little bit from J.J., just because J.J. is still learning,” Jefferson told USA TODAY Sports on behalf of Little Caesars. “He’s still trying to fit into that role of being a top tier quarterback in this league.”
Jefferson stopped short of calling Murray QB1. He reiterated that the Vikings have a true training camp battle at quarterback.
“He still has to prove himself to be the starter of our team. The quarterback position is not just given to Kyler, it’s earned,” Jefferson said. “So, if J.J. comes in and be that dynamic player that he is, and leading the guys and leading the team to where we feel like is the right direction, then that’s the decision that the coaches will make. It is up to me just to go out there and continue to give those guys that energy, that juice, that confidence to go out there and to continue to perform.”
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Jefferson acknowledged he’s already seen growth from McCarthy as the QB enters his third season.
Justin Jefferson seeks to rebound from career lows in 2025
The Vikings averaged an NFC-worst 166 passing yards per game a year ago. Jefferson had career-lows in receiving yards (1,048) and touchdowns receptions (two) last year. But he did become just the third player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first six seasons. He also holds the title of the youngest player to reach 8,000 career receiving yards.
The seventh-year wideout is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. However, a recent ESPN poll ranked Jefferson as the league’s second-best wide receiver behind his former LSU teammate, Ja’Marr Chase.
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“Obviously, I don’t agree. It’s just at the end of the day, it’s all opinions,” Jefferson said. “My resume speaks for itself, and what I do in that field, it speaks volumes. A lot of people want to talk about the quarterback situations that I have, the different stuff that I have going on with the Vikings that kind of would eliminate the type of production that I have been given. Just dealing with the circumstances that I have been given and still overcoming those difficulties and those barricades. I’m always going to be at the top of my list.”
It’s a fair point made by Jefferson. Chase has a franchise quarterback in Joe Burrow (another LSU teammate of Jefferson) throwing him the football. The Vikings are still searching for their franchise QB. It could be either Murray or McCarthy. Training camp and the preseason will be the determining factor. Jefferson hopes whoever starts at quarterback will help provide more Griddy dances in the end zone.
“I always try to add a little bit something different every single year. Last year I didn’t get in that end zone as much as I wanted to,” Jefferson said. “This year I’m looking forward to being in that end zone a little more, giving a little bit different versions of the Griddy, and of course, having some of my teenage join along.”
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Justin Jefferson says leader in Minnesota’s QB competition ‘still has to prove himself’
