Getty
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Not much has gone right for the Minnesota Vikings this season, and the NFL’s most recent decision involving Justin Jefferson and the Seattle Seahawks just added more insult to the injurious 2025 campaign.
On Saturday, December 6, the league handed out 29 total fines for on-field misbehavior in Week 13 via its Office of Game-Day Accountability. However, it decided not to issue a punishment to Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori for his bodyslam of Jefferson late in the third quarter of a blowout victory last weekend.
Jefferson took exception to the play, immediately rising up and getting in the rookie DB’s face for a tackle that the referees flagged for unnecessary roughness. Emmanwori’s actions ultimately caused a mini on-field dustup and resulted in Seattle giving Minnesota a free 15 yards.
However, the league didn’t feel after review that the action merited a fine. Some plays that are called penalties on the field don’t result in fines, while other plays that officials choose not to flag end up costing players money in the days that follow.
Justin Jefferson Explains Avoidance of Media Following Vikings’ Shutout Loss to Seahawks
GettyMinnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson’s frustrations last weekend were not limited to the confines of the contest, which the Vikings lost 26-0, as undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer threw four interceptions in his first-ever professional start.
While analysts and fans have observed Jefferson’s exasperated sideline demeanor for weeks, the superstar wideout made his displeasure with the offense even clearer by exiting the road locker room last Sunday without speaking to media members. Jefferson addressed that decision on Friday.
“I just feel like it’s the same thing,” Jefferson said. “I’m going to be sitting there telling you guys the same exact thing that I said the past few weeks. The offense needs to get better. We need to focus, execute, all the things that we had been saying the whole season.”
Justin Jefferson Shares Optimism for Vikings’ Future
GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
While those comments point to the obvious — that the offense is struggling mightily, particularly at the QB position whether its been Brosmer, JJ McCarthy or Carson Wentz under center.
However, Jefferson also inserted some optimism into his remarks a couple days ahead of the team’s upcoming matchup against the Washington Commanders.
“The frustration and the emotions was definitely high after the game,” Jefferson continued. “Of course, I hate being in this situation, losing these games, but there’s gonna be better times. There’s gonna be a time where people put on their TV, and they’re talking all about us. Jump on our bandwagon.”
Minnesota has built out a quality enough roster that if the team can get decent quarterback play, Jefferson’s prediction will probably prove true. But there is no evidence from the seven starts between McCarthy and Brosmer this season that the Vikings have a leap coming under center.
Both players deserve more time to develop and prove themselves, as each made his first career start in 2025. But it’s a near certainty that Minnesota will bring in at least one established veteran, and possibly more, next spring to compete with both McCarthy and Brosmer for spots up and down the QB depth chart, including that of QB1.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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