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These days, Tyreek Hill is the talk of the NFL.
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Did you see his celebration last weekend? Is he going to reach 2,000 yards? Can he become the first wide receiver in NFL history to be named MVP?
The praise is warranted. The Miami Dolphins veteran torches double-teams. He sprints through defenses like Dash in “The Incredibles.” On the receiving end, he locates loopy passes like a missile defense system. Through 12 games, he has 93 catches, 1,481 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. It’s a mind-blowing pace.
Few receivers have come close to matching what Hill has accomplished this season. Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has more receptions (102) but 300 fewer yards. CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown and Ja’Marr Chase are putting together All-Pro seasons, but none of them pairs Hill’s down-to-down efficiency with game-changing explosiveness.
Only one receiver was in serious contention with Hill over the first five weeks of the season, but that receiver has not played a live snap in eight weeks. At the time of Minnesota Viking Justin Jefferson’s hamstring strain, which sidelined him in the fourth quarter of a Week 5 home loss against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jefferson had amassed the same number of catches as Hill and was second in the league, behind Hill, in yards per catch. Jefferson had also accounted for more plays of 20-plus yards than Hill — and every other non-quarterback in the NFL.
Jefferson is set to return this weekend, and those inside the building are excited about what he can accomplish over the final five weeks of the season.
WR Justin Jefferson will be activated from injured reserve today. pic.twitter.com/aYCSmMf6Xb
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 28, 2023
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“With other receivers, defenses are trying to find ways to slow them down,” Minnesota offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “With J.J., it’s hard to find.”
Even as defenses played more traditional coverages without Jefferson on the field — Cover 1 and Cover 3 usage against the Vikings rose considerably — Minnesota’s efficiency and explosiveness both dipped in Jefferson’s absence.
The loss of quarterback Kirk Cousins to an Achilles injury factored into the team’s performance. And although the Vikings kept the ship afloat, going 5-2 without Jefferson, his inclusion in an offense that has floundered in its previous two games should provide a jolt.
Key word: Should.
Nothing is certain for a receiver who will likely be catching passes from quarterback Josh Dobbs on Sunday for the first time in live action. The two have connected in practice in recent weeks, and their shared reps are likely to increase this week. Jefferson, meanwhile, seems eager about working with a mobile quarterback for the first time. Jefferson said that the closest he’s come to operating the scramble drill when a play breaks down was with Joe Burrow, who threw passes to him in college at LSU.
“It’s an extra thing the defense has to be aware of,” Jefferson said. “So, not only do you have to worry about our receivers and tight end and backs, but you also have to worry about a quarterback that’s running and able to be mobile. It’s a lot of weapons on the field.”
A stimulating vision, indeed, but one that comes with caveats. Dobbs’ frequent turnovers and lack of consistency spawned an internal evaluation of the team’s future at quarterback. Questions about Dobbs’ ability to play on time and in rhythm were central. Cousins has not been perfect by any means, but Jefferson’s level of performance in recent years has in many ways hinged on Cousins’ skill set.
Hill’s 2022 season serves as a prime example of how much an elite receiver’s production can change depending on his quarterback. With Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa on the field last season, Hill averaged 3.49 yards per route. That number dropped almost a full yard in Tagovailoa’s absence.
Notably, Hill’s targets per route rose without Tagovailoa on the field, as backups relied on their premium weapon. The way Phillips has talked about the future of the Vikings offense, targeting Jefferson won’t be the issue.
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“Understanding the type of player J.J. is, other guys have to be a little less selfish,” Phillips said. “When you get a guy like that, understandably, he’s going to get a share of those targets, and we want it that way.”
The superstar wide receiver entered the season with plans of besting his NFL-leading 128-catch, 1,809-yard season in 2022. Jefferson was on pace to do exactly that, which is why he appeared so downtrodden in the locker room after suffering the first major injury of his career. The frustrated Jefferson stretched his body into his jeans and jacket. He exited gingerly, leaving behind a boatload of uncertainty.
How serious is this hamstring injury? Would he want to return this season given the team’s outlook at 1-4?
Head coach Kevin O’Connell answered the first couple of questions in the days following the hamstring strain diagnosis. The injury was serious enough that the Vikings placed Jefferson on injured reserve. No, O’Connell did not anticipate the injury would keep Jefferson out for the remainder of the season.
Jefferson sought multiple opinions on the extent of the strain, then rehabbed with the team’s training staff. He explained a few weeks ago that he, ultimately, would make the final decision on his return.
The specter of Jefferson’s long-term future hovers above all of this, as well. The Vikings and Jefferson’s representatives held extension discussions in the weeks leading up to the season. No deal was consummated. Months later, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah characterized the conversations as positive and attributed the lack of a deal to the rarity of extensions happening two years before a player reaches free agency.
From ownership on down, the Vikings remain committed to signing Jefferson long term. There are still some details to work out, though. For example, who will be doing the quarterbacking in 2024 and beyond, and how will Jefferson feel about that? And how might this five-game sample without Cousins shape the long-term perspective? Only time will provide the answers to these bigger-ticket items.
However, there is certainty as it relates to Jefferson’s future. Hill might lead the NFL in receiving yards this season, but at some point soon, Jefferson will be coming for his crown as the league leader in average annual value at the receiver position: $30 million a year.
(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
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Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHEN
