This has been a trying year for the Minnesota Vikings, who entered 2025 with great expectations after the team brought in numerous players this offseason to help boost a squad that won 14 games in 2024. However, the 4-8 Vikings are now playing out the string of a likely lost season that sees them sitting last in the NFC North by three games.
On Thursday, superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson was asked whether he thought this was a “wasted” year, and he provided this response, noting that it’s been “one of the most difficult” campaigns.
“No, I wouldn’t say wasted,” Jefferson said, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “Obviously it’s a difficult season. It’s probably one of the most difficult seasons just off of the circumstances, having a young quarterback, having a different team, having young players on the team. So it’s just one of those years. Not every year is going to be a top-tier year for me. It’s really a part of the game, so it’s just all on me to expect a lot from these guys and to improve on anything that we need to improve on as an offense.”
The Vikings turned to J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, to take over at quarterback. Unfortunately, McCarthy has endured a tough rookie season. In six starts, he’s thrown for 10 interceptions and six touchdowns while completing just 54.1 percent of his passes for 929 yards (154.8 yards per game). His 57.9 quarterback rating and 24.1 QBR ranks last among quarterbacks who have made at least six starts, per Pro Football Reference.
McCarthy has endured numerous injuries to start his NFL career, including a torn meniscus that cost him all of 2024. He missed five games due to a high ankle sprain and one due to a concussion. McCarthy has since cleared concussion protocol.
Of course, McCarthy can turn things around. He’s only six games into his career after all, and the Vikings clearly thought well enough of the ex-Michigan star to move up a spot in the draft via trade and take a chance on him.
In the meantime, though, the Vikings have had their share of issues. Minnesota has ultimately struggled on both sides of the ball, sitting 28th in points per game and 18th in points allowed per game.
Jefferson, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro in his sixth NFL season, has had a relatively quiet year by his standards (62 catches, 799 yards, two touchdowns). He’s eclipsed 1,400 or more yards in four of his first five seasons, with the lone exception being 2023, when he missed seven games with a hamstring injury.
This year has certainly been a difficult one, but the Vikings still have a chance to finish the season strong beginning Sunday, when they host the Washington Commanders.