Justin Jefferson has been setting records since he entered the league in 2020. In his first three seasons, he once held the rookie record for receiving yards and the league record for receptions (324) and receiving yards (4,825).
He also broke Michael Thomas’ record for most receiving yards in a player’s first four seasons and became only the seventh player in NFL history to have at least 1,800 receiving yards in a season. Jefferson’s 2023 campaign was also impressive because he finished with over 1,000 yards despite playing in only ten regular season games.
This time, Jefferson reached another milestone early in the 2024 season by tallying 6,000 career receiving yards. The former LSU standout achieved the feat by collecting four catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Jefferson accumulated those yards in 62 games, tying him with Lance Alworth for the fewest games needed to reach that number.
In addition to adding another feather in his cap, Jefferson reached the 6,000-yard mark after completing a 97-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold.
After Darnold dropped back to the end zone, he launched a deep strike that Jefferson caught in the 49ers’ 47-yard line. The 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year did the rest by changing direction to gain leverage over safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum. Fellow wideout Jalen Nailor caught up and provided the block that prevented Odum from reaching Jefferson before the end zone.
We're really about to put an active player in Canton.@JJettas2
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2024
@NFLonCBs pic.twitter.com/cephalTst9
Jefferson has eight receptions out of 13 targets for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He is fifth in receiving yards after Week 2, 60 yards behind league-leading Nico Collins. He can collect more yards and touchdowns during their Week 3 showdown against the Houston Texans, granted that the Vikings won’t declare him out of action due to the quad injury he suffered in Week 2.
-Lance Fernandez