The Vikings may have escaped Week 1 with a win, but not without a few tense moments. After a costly pick six, all eyes turned to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, until star wide receiver Justin Jefferson stepped in. Now, with concerns brewing around coaching decisions, the 26-year-old’s stance is making waves.

Taking the blame for the interception, Jefferson didn’t fault his quarterback, saying, “J.J. wasn’t ready for me to be out that soon. That’s why the ball was thrown inside of me, where it needed to be outside. So it’s mostly on me, on that play. I’m just happy that J.J. really didn’t think about it too much. J.J. was on to the next play.”

During the third quarter, McCarthy threw a pick-six intended for Jefferson, intercepted by former Vikings practice squad cornerback Nahshon Wright and returned 74 yards for a Bears touchdown. While the off-target throw raised eyebrows toward the young quarterback, Jefferson later admitted his route timing was off.

Justin Jefferson took responsibility for J.J. McCarthy’s interception on Monday night, saying he needed to take two more steps before breaking on the route. “J.J. wasn’t ready for me to be out that soon. That’s why the ball was thrown inside of me, where it needed to be outside.… pic.twitter.com/m8ivQ5Mzui

“As a captain of this team, as the best receiver in the league, I got to detail my things up better,” Jefferson said, taking ownership of the mistake. His accountability sends a strong message of support to the 22-year-old quarterback, who’s still finding his rhythm after missing his first season because of meniscus surgery. 

McCarthy wrapped up his day completing 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, tossing two touchdowns against one interception. Pretty good numbers that ended the Vikings‘ night with a 27-24 win.

It was a typical case of miscommunication between a quarterback and the wide receiver. Something that needs fixing before facing the Falcons, who are not easy  to outscore. The Bears game exposed flaws, and Jefferson’s postgame remarks made that clear, especially when it came to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

O’Connell praised, then pressed by Jefferson over play calls

Vikings came away with the win over the Bears (27-24) even after that 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. But Justin Jefferson wasn’t happy. He knew what went wrong and what won’t work against the Falcons. And he’s going to make sure that Kevin O’Connell knows it.

Jefferson had a quiet night by his standards, finishing with four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. Still, he insisted the missed plays weren’t entirely on him.

When asked about head coach Kevin O’Connell, Jefferson’s response came off as contradictory. The veteran receiver praised the coach, acknowledging his leadership while also admitting they don’t always see eye to eye on play calls. “He’s not perfect as well. Some play calls might not be the best,” Jefferson said.

And when Van Pelt asked if he planned to confront O’Connell directly, Jefferson said, “Oh I’m gonna tell him myself.” And there’s nothing wrong with that. Just the second-highest paid WR in the league (and captain) being honest with his head coach.

In his fourth season leading the Vikings, O’Connell has built a 35–17 record. But there are at least a couple of plays every game that Vikings fans don’t understand, and it seems like Jefferson doesn’t either. And he’s making sure it works out before this week’s matchup.