Justin Jefferson on Adam Thielen’s Return, Confidence in J.J. McCarthy, Hamstring Injury Recovery

Justin Jefferson on Adam Thielen’s Return, Confidence in J.J. McCarthy, Hamstring Injury Recovery

How does it feel to have Adam Dylan back with you? Yeah, it feels good. You know, I mean, it it definitely bring back a lot of memories of him being in this building, but uh uh just how he comes to work every single day and um how he still loves the game, you know, being a vet that he is, uh you know, playing for so long, uh he still comes to work like a kid. He still enjoys being around the guys. Uh still enjoys, you know, just coming to work with a a smile on his face. So, uh, you know, just being with him, you know, my early years of being here, um, you know, him teaching me so many different things and him really taking, uh, me under his wing, you know, it definitely feels great to have someone, uh, that I recognize in the building again, uh, especially, you know, a friend like him. What do you think that he can do to help JJ? uh a lot of stuff, you know, especially with uh Jordan being down for a couple weeks. Uh you know, having a vet receiver, you know, not only uh can he run routes and create separation, but uh being a vet receiver, you know, him having that knowledge uh of being having that experience uh of being out there, you know, game time, you know, of course, Monday night, uh we got uh the Sunday night right after that. So, uh, you know, having him and with this offense that he already been in, uh, already is, you know, familiar with and of course familiar with, uh, JJ throwing with him, you know, in the offseason. So, uh, it’s like it was meant to happen and it, you know, he was soon, uh, to to be with us. So, uh, it it’s definitely great to have him in and he’s definitely going to be a huge help for us. How did you find out that he was coming back? Did he text you? Did you find out some other way? No, I found out like everybody else found out. I found out like everybody else found out. But uh you know, of course, you know, as soon as he soon as the confirmation came in, uh you know, I got on the phone with with Sam and uh you know, just hollered at him for a little bit and congratulated him. But uh you know, hearing the excitement in his voice and uh hearing how happy he was to only you know, one come back home uh but two, you know, be with this organization again, be with this type of team uh that of course went on a 14-3 season last year. uh having a good uh chance of having another good season this year. So, uh him being a a valuable part in that role and to coming in and being big for us uh is is very special. Just in the past couple weeks with JJ, do you feel like you’re back in the rhythm? Like, how do you feel right now timing wise with him um as you guys step forward to the season? Yeah, I definitely feel back in a rhythm. Um you know, just uh working with him for, you know, two weeks uh consistently now. uh you know, just getting the timing down. Uh getting the connection, the the relationship, uh you know, quarterback to receiver. Uh but I I never really had a a second guess or, you know, um a doubt in my mind, uh that we weren’t going to connect or we weren’t going to be on the same page. Uh so it’s just all about just creating that um creating that uh those plays together uh and creating that uh that connection. So, uh, I feel like I’m confident, he’s confident, everybody else is confident in the plays that we have, uh, the players that we have out there on that field. Uh, it’s just all about going out there having that confidence and executing. Did you see enough of him this summer that you’re confident that just in that he’s going to be the player that you guys want him to be or need him to be, not just Monday, but over time? Yeah. Um, I mean, you know, watching him from college, you know, he definitely has it. you know, he definitely has the winning attitude, uh, the dog mentality and, uh, just that killer that killer mode. Uh, so it’s just having that same mentality here. Uh, and also, you’re having more weapons, you know, you you having TJ, me, AJ, uh, Jordan Addison when he come back, Speedy, not Adam. So, you know, so so many different people that’s surrounding him, uh, that can help him out tremendously with the the, uh, plays and the opportunities that we can create out there. It’s just all about him, you know, calling a play, getting the ball into our hands, and letting everything else work for itself. How much you put on yourself personally to help him reach his full potential? Oh, a lot. uh you know um you know as a captain of the team, as a leader uh and of course as a you know the number one position uh at receiver uh that is definitely one of my my roles and uh something that I I definitely wanted to uh you know take control of you know as as soon as I knew that he was the the starting quarterback. Uh just working with him especially last year in training camp. Uh seeing the different plays that he were making and uh the potential that he had last year. Uh, and now to feed off of that, uh, working with working with him on the sideline this year during training camp and, uh, talking with him behind the scenes and making sure that, uh, whenever I did step back out there on that field, I didn’t miss a step. I didn’t miss a beat. I understand where he needs me to be and where he would like me to be. So, u, just like I said, we definitely have that confidence in him uh, to go out there and and play the way we need him to play. Uh just just like I’ve been preaching to him, just have that confidence and be be yourself. Justin Kevin talked the other day about the work you did last week, kind of the time you had to capitalize on getting yourself back after the the hamstring. What did you do last week to get yourself ready and how are you feeling heading into this week after all that work you did? Go to work, you know, coming to practice with a uh a great mindset. uh you know, doing all of the reps, uh doing all of the routes on the air, uh just making sure we’re getting that timing, uh that connection down pack. Uh but just like I said, we’ve we’ve been working in the offseason. You know, we’ve been working uh you know, behind the scenes. So, uh it never really was a a thought that really creeped up to me that, you know, we weren’t going to be on the same page and uh I was going to miss a step. So, uh, it’s just all about having that mindset into, you know, going out there and practice and, uh, you know, getting those reps and getting getting that those looks down pack, uh, because those are the the looks that we really need to, you know, transition to in the game. How’s your hamstring feeling after the last couple weeks of work here? Yeah, it feels great. You know, uh, definitely credit to, you know, the training staff and the guys uh, in the training room uh, for for really prepping me up until this point. uh you know just missing all training camp and just uh standing in that training room. It’s it definitely gets dark days in there. Uh you know working hard and uh just not being with the team uh it definitely gets tough you know being by yourself and competing with yourself. Uh but you know you got to think about the ending result uh and to you know having a healthy body having a strong body to maintain a full season uh and then of course you know getting back out there with my teammates and uh you know practicing with them and creating that bond. a couple plays I think during during some of the camp practices. Mattelis got to call some of the wins wins the headtohead. Hopefully never and we were on the same team for a very long time. Uh but I mean just to to kind of get that inside of it of uh hearing the play call, you know, being able to call a play call back. I definitely understand the difficulty that JJ goes through uh whenever he hears that call in the helmet and he have to uh repeat that back to us. Uh definitely a difficult job, you know, just just repeating something back that you’re hearing. Uh but to to go out there and have to, you know, know the play, know everybody’s routes and everybody’s uh position and jobs, uh to go out there and execute fully, uh is definitely a hard job. They get paid the way they do for that reason. Um, but my job is to always, you know, help JJ and, uh, making sure that, you know, he has any questions that he need or, uh, anything that he’s not really, you know, sure about, he can always ask me. Justin, do you think suffering the hamstring injury two years ago made you more willing and more like aware to report it right away? Uh, yeah. Yeah. Um, you know, just, um, having the feeling of, you know, two years ago, uh, understanding how my body felt during that time. uh understanding the the um the seriousness of the injury. I definitely didn’t want that to you know reoccur. Uh so just kind of communicating with the staff and just uh kind of coming to understanding that maybe we could we should step back a little bit and uh not really stress you know my hamstring uh you know overly. So uh just you know great communication with uh me and the staff uh and just making sure that you know I’m ready to go uh Monday night. Last couple for Justin. play. Do you call a running play up the middle? I’m not really sure. Uh definitely not a definitely not a running play up the middle. Uh definitely plaid plays for sure. Oh, always. Always. Justin, you know that defenses cover you differently than almost any other team in the league. How has that sort of shaped your preparation when you’re going into a game? Yeah. Um I mean, shall we say a lot, you know, just because we’re really running plays for the double team. you know, we understand that u you know, some plays, especially u you know, the different looks that we have uh certain looks that I’m I’mma get double for sure. Uh and I’m going have that sa safety help over top. So, uh kind of understanding that, understanding how a team’s been playing me, especially last year, uh this team, you know, been how they played me last year. Uh so just kind of putting that all into understanding and uh realizing when you know other players are going to have that one-on-one matchup and being able to separate uh versus man and uh whenever I’m going to have my you know one-on-one opportunities to to win and hopefully they’re more than uh than I expect. So uh you know just creating those opportunities for everyone else out there on the field. U but all in all we have a a great offense with a with tremendous talent. So, uh, it’s just going out there executing our plays fully and, uh, getting the ball to the to the playmakers. Have you noticed Adam’s swimmer wearing the fake bling? He he say it’s fake. It’s not fake at all. Not one bit. But, uh, he he definitely been, you know what I’m saying? Getting a little tips tip here and there for me. You know what I’m saying? Trying to trying to update his jury game a little bit. But, uh, he’s he’s right where he need to be. Thank y’all. I appreciate it.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson addressed the media from TCO Performance Center on September 4 ahead of the Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

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