The star receiver is never shy.
For the foreseeable future, or at least until Week 1 of the NFL season begins, the Minnesota Vikings and their players will have to answer questions about Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. The move was sure to spark conversation and a big discussion revolving around hindsight and the decision to start McCarthy and let Sam Darnold walk to Seattle.
Justin Jefferson hasn't been shy about the 2025 season. It's crazy to think Jefferson had a down season and still finished with over 1,000 receiving yards (his lowest season-ending total) with the offense and quarterback situation.
The star receiver was very blunt about Murray and McCarthy at yesterday's press conference.
"I'm definitely looking for those big, exciting plays [from Murray]," Jefferson said on the first day of the Vikings' offseason program. "I'm definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, his arm strength that he's shown countless times over the years.
"And then for J.J., for somebody to enter that room with that type of ability, that type of talent, he's got to step it up a little bit. So it's good for him to feel that type of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say, 'It's either now or I'm going to take that back seat again.' So it's all a competitive mindset when it comes to these type of things. So it's all about who's ready for that moment and who's ready to step up and take that initiative."
Jefferson revealed that he has met with McCarthy several times this offseason.
"Really just anywhere where we can meet up and find time to really throw the ball to each other," he said. "And it really doesn't have to be having to run 30 different routes, but it's all about just feeling the ball coming and seeing the ball coming out of his hand and then just feeling the impact and the velocity of his football. So it's great to just get that timing down pat, starting way earlier now than starting in training camp. So just getting a little head start, and it definitely feels good working with him."
McCarthy appears "a lot more confident into where I'm going to be at," Jefferson added, "how fast I'm going to get there, what timing to throw that ball before I break."
Jefferson is saying all the right things, but he definitely feels more excited to play with Murray in 2026 after a down 2025 season.