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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin
Jefferson said he’s aiming to become the first player in NFL history to post 2,000
receiving yards in a single season in 2022.
“I hope so,” Jefferson told Chris
Tomasson of the Pioneer Press on Monday. “I think I can. Hopefully,
everything goes right and I can get that 2,000. That’s my goal.”
Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson
holds the all-time record with the 1,964 yards he posted in 2012. The
Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp came close last year with 1,947 yards.
While Kupp staked his claim as the
NFL’s best wideout with his standout showing in 2021, Jefferson told
Tomasson the Las Vegas Raiders’ Davante Adams still gets his
vote as the top dog at the position, at least for now.
“Just because all that Davante Adams
has done,” he said. “I’m just showing my respect for him but
agree that after the year I’ll pass him.”
As for Kupp?
“Coop is good, but I’ll say he’s
behind me,” Jefferson told Tomasson.
The 23-year-old LSU product is off to a
tremendous start to his career with the Vikings. He’s earned Pro Bowl
selections in each of his first two NFL seasons while tallying 196
catches for 3,016 yards and 17 touchdowns in 33 games.
His yardage total is the highest in the
league over the past two years, and he’s hopeful the switch to new head
coach Kevin O’Connell, who most recently served as the offensive
coordinator for Kupp and the Rams, will open up the offense even
more.
“[O’Connell] can do a lot,” Jefferson told Tomasson. “He’ll put me in different positions, put me in
motion, put me in different spots to get the ball. So we’re excited
about this new offense. I feel great about all the different coaches
coming into the building.”
One thing that could prevent Jefferson
from reaching his 2,000-yard goal is Minnesota’s pass-catching depth.
Fellow receivers Adam Thielen and K.J.
Osborn along with tight end Irv Smith Jr. are going to command a fair
share of targets, and running back Dalvin Cook is also a factor in
the passing game.
Last year, Kupp finished with 191
targets, and the next-highest total on the Rams was Van Jefferson at
89. It was a similar story for Johnson with the Lions in 2012, when
he finished with 204 targets and next on the team was Brandon
Pettigrew at 102.
It’s hard to see Jefferson pushing
toward 200 targets if all of the Vikings’ main offensive playmakers
remain healthy. If injuries arise, however, all bets are off and he
could make that push for 2,000 yards.
Minnesota will kick off the regular
season Sept. 11 when it welcomes the NFC North rival Green Bay
Packers to U.S. Bank Stadium for a key Week 1 showdown.
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