There’s bigger goals, obviously, but McCardell pointed out 500 is “nothing to shake your hat at.”

“I’ve been around so many of them, it’s like, I think he should have more already,” the coach with 883 receptions himself vocalized. “I think he should cherish 500, but at the same time, it’s just a checkpoint.

“The finish line should be in the Hall of Fame and that could [involve] 1,200 — 1,400 catches,” McCardell elaborated. “I think that’s how he’s going to look at it. I mean, he knows where he’s at. The most elusive goal for [Justin] right now is winning a Super Bowl. I think that’s the one thing that he wants in his heart.”

To be sure, Jefferson’s magnificent production benefits that cause.

“Even after talking to Justin and working out some with him this summer, he knows this is just the beginning,” Carter communicated with certainty. “Everyone’s career has an opportunity to either go flat, go up, or continue to go up – and he has that type of ability that he can keep building on his game.”

Carter is embracing Jefferson’s potential to “one day, maybe be the receptions leader for the Vikings. I think a guy has over a thousand,” he said with a coy gladness. “[That’s a milestone] he is earmarked for, but you must recognize 500 because 500 is still a lot. That’s a lot of footballs in a short period of time.”

Twelve players before Jefferson surpassed the 500-catch barrier at some point in their first six NFL seasons. The record of 564 in that window belongs to another LSU product, Jarvis Landry. From a zoomed-out perspective, Jefferson, technically, is 1 of 180 players with at least 500 career receptions.

The following 10, however, confirm he is in truth one of a kind.

Writer’s Note: Clearly, far more than 1.99 percent of Jefferson’s 500 career catches qualify as special. In reporting this story, though, I wanted to trim the pool of uncommon plays. And so after closely reviewing every single reception this summer (special thanks to the Vikings football video department for the assist, by the way), I presented a highlight reel of 10 to Jefferson and asked him specific questions about each.

The First Griddy | 2020 Week 3: Sept. 27 vs. Titans | Career Catch No. 12

One common denominator for all walks of life is the beginning of something – namely figuring how, when and where to start – is difficult. It’s at least supposed to be. But not the dawn of Jefferson’s pro story. After playing a reserve role in Week 1 and Week 2, Jefferson penciled in as a starter for the first time at home against Tennessee. His 12th catch properly introduced his flair and famous celly to the NFL.

Jefferson called it a “memory that will last forever.”

“I just felt it was my time to come to the scene,” he beamed, rewatching his 71-yard breakthrough touchdown. “I wanted to go out with a bang [in my first start] – this was definitely a way to go out.

“It was COVID, so we didn’t have any fans,” he added, giggling at the debut of his iconic TD dance. “I couldn’t look into the stands or anything, so getting a reaction from my teammates, looking over to the sideline, hearing their reaction, seeing them being fired up and excited about that play – it was crazy!”