Regardless of where the lanky
Those that don't have a player like Jefferson, or a player close to his caliber, are just going to have a hard time keeping up.
“Any time you see guys coming into the league with those mannerisms, that maturity level, that focus, good things tend to happen to those guys," Vikings cornerback
Peterson has long had a front-row seat for this rise. He became a close friend of the Jefferson family at LSU, when
With 94.1 receiving yards per game, according to
The Vikings (5-1) missed the playoffs in each of Jefferson's first two seasons, but their offense under new coach
“K.O. and the rest of this coaching staff is doing a great job of getting me open and moving me around a little bit so we can avoid those double teams and triple teams,” Jefferson said. “So it’s really kudos to them.”
Minnesota’s primary rival has more evidence of how vital an elite pass-catcher is to consistent success. After trading two-time All-Pro
Hopkins had 10 catches for 103 yards and drew three penalties on
“Whether that affects calls or awareness of where he is, it’s going to add some things to what you’re thinking and what you’re doing,” Vikings safety
BIG SHOTS WANTED
The Vikings are 10th in the
Deep safeties are a regular part of the strategy, so the Vikings have relied more on play-calling creativity, route-running precision and yards after the catch than long passes. The Vikings have the third-fewest (15) completions of 20-plus yards in the league, according to
“We’re mixing it up, spreading the ball around a lot more,” Jefferson said.
KLIFF AND KYLER
The relationship between Kingsbury and Murray has always been unique, with the quarterback granted ample leeway to speak his mind to the coaches in the meeting room or on the sidelines. That was on display last Thursday, when TV cameras caught Kingsbury and Murray in a brief argument after a timeout. Whatever was said appeared to help, because the Cardinals rallied for a 42-34 win over the Saints.
Both the coach and quarterback downplayed the interaction this week, chalking it up to competitiveness. The 42-year-old Kingsbury has often joked about the differences between him and the 25-year-old Murray.
“That’s why I don’t have kids yet,” Kingsbury said, grinning. “I avoid the dramatic interactions as much as I can. But those situations — we’re trying to win, trying to play better on offense, intensity is ratcheted up, it’s game time, that’s the relationship. We both want to be really good on offense.”
DON'T FORGET HIM
MARCO’S MARK
Second-year Cardinals cornerback
Wilson, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft, has steadily become a key piece of the defense.
“Just like bad plays, you’ve got to put good plays behind you,” Wilson said. “I’m going to focus on this week, try to make some more plays like that so I can get more awards.”
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AP
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