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It is difficult to pinpoint the Minnesota Vikings’ shortcomings last season on a single player. The Vikings missed out on playing playoff football following their 8-9 finish in regular season play, which included eight one-score defeats.
Even as some outside noise has shifted blame over to Kirk Cousins as of late, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson sees that the veteran quarterback has been garnering too much criticism, which he opened up about to ProFootballTalk.
“At the end of the day, I didn't throw balls to myself,” Jefferson said. “A lot of people say things about Kirk, and it is what it is.”
As was the case in his rookie campaign, Jefferson formed stout chemistry with Cousins in the 2021 regular season. Overall, Jefferson finished with 1,616 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. Heading into the Vikings’ regular season finale against the Chicago Bears, the second-year wideout had a golden opportunity to break Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss’ record (1,632 in 2003) for the most receiving yards in a season in franchise history. In the end, he fell a mere 17 such yards short of breaking one of the more notable records in the storied history of the Vikings.
Jefferson has not yet had a taste of the NFL playoffs, which comes following his grand success at LSU where he helped the Tigers claim a College Football Playoff national title over the 2019 campaign.
In the big picture, Jefferson is hungry to help lead the Vikings back to the playoffs, especially as this would mean much to Cousins. The former LSU wideout well recognizes that winning sure would silence Cousins' critics.
“All people really care about is wins,” Jefferson said. “Yeah, so at the end of the day, if you don't get any wins then, people are going to be a little harsh on you.
“I mean, if we start winning, get some dubs, get into the playoffs, get high in the playoffs, maybe reach to the Super Bowl, I'm pretty sure people ain't gone be on him then.”
Overall, Jefferson has been among Cousins’ more vocal supporters as of late. Following the Vikings’ Week 18 win over the Bears, the versatile receiver was asked about the passer’s long-term future with the team, to where he took some to laud him and also to give him his share of respect.
“Our relationship has been growing ever since I stepped in the building last year,” Jefferson said in January. “Things ain’t always perfect with us. He’s the reason I got these many yards. He’s the reason why I’m this type of player. I’m not throwing the ball to myself.
“He’s been doing a great job for us. Of course we want a better record, better outcome, but Kirk has been doing good. He’s been doing a phenomenal job.”
As it stands, Cousins has a mere one more full season remaining on his current contract deal with the team, as he is set to hold a $45 million cap number for next season.
Even amid much talk as of late centering on whether the Vikings plan to part ways with him in the upcoming offseason, Cousins is currently set to be under center for Minnesota come Week 1 of the 2022 campaign. And for Jefferson, he sure aspires to make the most out of Cousins’ possible last season with the team.
