Justin Jefferson opened up after Thursday’s practice about wanting to reconnect with a version of himself he feels has been missing. He said he is working to reclaim the mentality that once made him one of the most dangerous players in the league.
The mindset shift, he explained, is about playing free and fully confident again. Jefferson emphasized that this change starts internally and comes from his own expectations.
Justin Jefferson Explains ‘Savage Mode’ and His Support for Quarterback J.J. McCarthy
Jefferson described his goal as getting back into “savage mode,” the mindset he had when he felt unstoppable in one-on-one situations.
“Just trying to work back into that feeling of being out there on Sundays and going out there and just killing it,” Jefferson said. He noted that his focus is on what he can control and getting mentally aligned with the standard he believes he should play at, not frustration with teammates or playcalling.
He also acknowledged the challenge of facing constant bracket coverage and defensive attention. Jefferson said those looks naturally take away some of the joy that comes from winning routes in open space, but he still loves the work and the daily process. He pointed back to earlier years when coverages were lighter and explained that the game feels different now because opponents structure their entire defensive plan around limiting him.
Addressing the visible frustrations from Minnesota’s 27-19 loss to the Ravens, Jefferson said his reactions were tied to wanting a better outcome for the team. The Vikings offense is struggling, ranking 25th in PFSN’s OFFi.
“You want me to be happy and go chase him down,” he said of the interception. “That’s not really something that I want to happen.” He said the competitive emotion came from being involved in plays that swung the game and wanting the offense to finish drives more consistently.
On McCarthy, Jefferson said he has made a point to keep encouraging the rookie second-year quarterback. “Continue to be yourself, continue to have that confidence and don’t really overthink things,” Jefferson said of his conversations with McCarthy this week.
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He added that every quarterback he has played with needed time to learn how defenses cover him, and McCarthy is no different. Jefferson said their communication has increased and believes the connection will improve as McCarthy continues to grow.
Jefferson closed by saying he never complains about targets and trusts McCarthy to give him chances in any coverage. He said his focus is returning to the mindset that once defined him.