Justin Jefferson’s breakthrough moment shouldn’t be lost on the Minnesota Vikings’ dismal outing Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.
A 15-yard catch late in the second quarter put Jefferson over the 8,000-yard receiving mark for his career, making him the youngest player in NFL history to surpass the mark.
Jefferson (26 years, 129 days) beat Randy Moss’ previous record by 168 days. He is just the third player to pass for 8,000-plus yards in his first six seasons (Moss, Torry Holt).
That Jefferson grabbed the record on a wide breaking route against zone coverage was fitting, as that’s the type of play he’s had fun with throughout his career.