For the first time in his NFL career, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson was nowhere to be found when it came time for reporters to speak to players after the team's embarrassing loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.
After how poorly the Vikings performed in Seattle, though, no one should blame Jefferson for his actions after the contest. His silence was received loud and clear by Minnesota's locker room and fan base, and it possibly opened some eyes on the team's coaching staff.
On Thursday, during his normal weekly chat with the local Twin Cities media, Jefferson explained why he decided to bolt for the team bus after the Seahawks loss instead of sticking around to say something he might've regretted.
"Yeah, [I was] just frustrated [about] the game. Coming out with zero points is never something that I'm satisfied with.
We lost, and obviously, I just feel like it's the same thing. [I was] going to be sitting there telling y'all guys the same exact thing that I've said for the past couple weeks. The offense needs to get better, we need to focus up and execute, and all of the things that we've been saying the whole season.
So, I knew I was going to talk to y'all guys today. So, just, the frustration and the emotions definitely [were] high after the game."
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is frustrated and he absolutely should be
Jefferson's numbers this season might lead some to believe otherwise, but he is still the best wide receiver in the NFL. He knows this, which is why the 2025 campaign has been so frustrating for him.
Minnesota's quarterback play has dropped off significantly this season compared to the last few years, and it's had a big impact on Jefferson's production. What used to be easy pitch-and-catches to him in the past are no longer as simple to the guys who have been throwing the football for the Vikings this season.
What does this mean for the future of Minnesota's quarterback position? Well, it's safe to say that Jefferson is going to have a lot of input on what the Vikings do since he's the best player on the roster and he's currently making $35 million per year.
If he's done with Minnesota's attempt to develop J.J. McCarthy, then the team will likely bring in a more experienced veteran to be their starter for the 2026 campaign.
That seems like the direction where the Vikings are probably headed, so McCarthy now has the final five games of this season to prove to Jefferson that he's the right guy to be starting under center for the team in 2026.