Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson had little to say about his upcoming reunion with former quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Following the Vikings’ narrow 23-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on December 1, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero asked Jefferson if he had any early words for Cousins ahead of their Week 14 matchup.
“Not at all,” Jefferson replied. “We’re focused on ourselves. We’re not thinking about any individual or anyone coming into the building. Our priority is on us and what we need to do to improve.”
Jefferson’s reserved response regarding Cousins comes after the Vikings reached a crossroads between their two stars. The team opted not to offer a competitive enough deal to keep Cousins, who ultimately signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons during free agency.
Instead, the Vikings shifted their focus to Jefferson, securing him with a record-setting four-year, $140 million contract in June, making him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
This season, Jefferson has stepped into a leadership role left vacant by Cousins’ departure and has been instrumental in helping quarterback Sam Darnold revitalize his career. Together, they’ve propelled the Vikings to a 10-2 start in the 2024 campaign.
Despite the split, Jefferson has made it clear he holds no hard feelings toward Cousins for leaving Minnesota.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson ‘Not Mad’ at Kirk Cousins for Leaving Viking
Throughout the 2023 season, Jefferson advocated for Cousins’ return but said it would not impact his contract negotiations with the team.
Appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show” in July, Jefferson cleared the air that he understood Cousins’ decision to move on and added, “I’m not mad at him at all for that.”
“I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for his businesses-wise,” Jefferson told Eisen, per ESPN. “I just knew that everything just wasn’t the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys. I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I’m not mad at him at all for that. I’m grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we have accomplished together.”
The duo accomplished plenty.
Jefferson won Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022 and posted the most receiving yards by any player in their first four seasons.
Cousins reinvented his reputation in the league, leading a 13-win season in 2022 that was fueled by an NFL record eight fourth-quarter comebacks with Jefferson as his No. 1 target.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a business and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do for yourself and for your family, and I clearly understand that. But it’s on to the next. It doesn’t really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes,” Jefferson said. “I’m always going to try to make the best of the opportunity. I’m always going to try to be the quarterback’s friend and make his job a lot easier. It doesn’t matter if it was Kirk or if it’s Sam [Darnold] or if it’s J.J. [McCarthy] I’m going to make it as easy as possible for him.”
While Kirk Cousins has displayed glimpses of his potential in Atlanta, the team’s recent three-game losing streak has raised doubts about his long-term future with the Falcons.
Cousins is coming off a rough Week 13 outing against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he threw four interceptions. For the first time in his career, he has gone three consecutive weeks without throwing a touchdown pass and currently leads the league with 13 interceptions.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano urged caution amidst calls for rookie Michael Penix Jr. to take over, but acknowledged that questions about Cousins’ future beyond 2024 are valid.
“If Cousins can’t turn things around against his former team, speculation about his role with the Falcons will only grow,” Graziano wrote, highlighting the tricky situation Atlanta created by drafting Penix eighth overall just weeks after signing Cousins to a major free-agent deal.
Graziano added, “Asking a rookie to step in with five games left and salvage the season is a huge ask. If Atlanta makes the move and Penix struggles, it’s tough to go back to Cousins — this year or next. The Falcons’ quarterback dilemma is largely self-inflicted, but for now, their best chance to turn things around likely lies with the veteran. If it doesn’t work, they can reassess in the offseason and move on from Cousins after one year.”
With a critical Week 14 matchup against the Vikings ahead, Cousins’ performance could play a significant role in determining his future with the Falcons.
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