COSTA MESA — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is averaging 10 catches per game through the season’s first two weeks. He has 20 receptions, second in the NFL behind Rams phenom Puka Nacua, for a league-leading 309 yards, including eight catches of 20 yards or more.
That sounds like another challenge for the Chargers’ defense, a collection of players who have so far failed to adequately contain quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has attempted 44 passes in each of Minnesota’s first two games, losses to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles. So far, Cousins has thrown 25 passes intended for Jefferson, targeting him on 38.3% of his attempts so far.
Surprisingly, Cousins and Jefferson haven’t connected for a touchdown.
Not surprisingly, the Chargers (0-2) say they’re aware of all Jefferson is capable of doing for the Vikings when the teams play Sunday in Minneapolis. They say they’re prepared to defend one of the league’s toughest players to defend as they attempt to win their first game this season.
The Chargers also recalled the last time they faced him, when Jefferson torched their defense for nine catches and 143 yards in the Vikings’ 27-20 victory Nov. 14, 2021, at SoFi Stadium. The Vikings’ offense has since changed with coach Kevin O’Connell now in his second season in Minnesota.
Jefferson still presents a challenge for a leaky Chargers defense, ranked last among the NFL’s 32 teams in overall yardage given up and 30th in points allowed through the first two weeks of the season.
Chargers coach Brandon Staley called Jefferson “one of the fantastic players in the league. He is certainly off to a historic pace. One of the most complete receivers, I think, to be in the NFL in a long time. For him to be able to do all this as such a young player, he’s definitely one of the faces of the league.”
O’Connell and Staley were on the Rams’ coaching staff during the 2020 season, with O’Connell as offensive coordinator and Staley as defensive coordinator. O’Connell stayed with the Rams for their Super Bowl season in 2021 and Staley became the Chargers’ head coach that same season.
“He’s like a brother to me,” Staley said, “but we’re going head-to-head on Sunday, so our friendship is going to be a distant second to us winning and losing. I just have the utmost respect for him as a leader, as a coach. He’s one of the top coaches that I’ve ever worked with. He’s one of the top play-callers that I’m going to have to go against. He’s doing a great job with that team and it’s going to be a great challenge.”
Staley also said, “There’s that chess match of what we’re going to do. I think the fact that we know each other so well makes it even tougher, at times, but it’s going to be about the players on the field on Sunday. It’s going to be our players executing at a high level. That’s going to be determining who wins and loses on Sunday.”
Certainly, limiting Jefferson’s big plays will be among the top items on Staley’s to-do list Sunday. The Chargers know what’s coming, but stopping Jefferson and securing their first victory after losses of 36-34 to the Dolphins in Week 1 and 27-24 in overtime in Week 2 to the Titans could prove difficult.
“He’s a guy that can get open, create separation and make a lot of plays for his team,” Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. “We have to be ready to take him away from his game. … One of the most elite receivers we have (in the league). … He may make a play or two, but you’ve got to get back in the huddle and keep playing against guys like that. Guys like that will make a play on you and you have to keep playing.”