In Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season Minnesota Vikings superstar wideout Justin Jefferson torched the Green Bay Packers defense for 11 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a Vikings 23-7 win. That performance was just the beginning of an historic season for Jefferson. But Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander isn’t ready to anoint “J Jettas” as the best thing since sliced bread.
On Thursday, Alexander, the former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl pick, had a lot to say about Jefferson and that first matchup.
“You’ve just got to be real: He don’t jump in no super suit and get dressed and jump outside, you hear me? I don’t either sometimes. But he is human is what I’m saying. We ain’t putting too much on nobody.
“He’s a really good receiver. But at the end of the day, I’m a really good corner. We’ve got really good corners. We’ve got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is. You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because it’s like, the first game, that was a fluke.”
Alexander showing Jefferson respect, but then saying his huge first game was basically a coincidence or accident is disrespectful. Jefferson has been doing this type stuff since his rookie season, so it’s hardly something that doesn’t happen quite often.
But in the same breath, Alexander also called Jefferson a top-three pass-catcher in the league.
“Davante Adams No. 1, and I think Miami’s Jaylen Waddle might have snuck in there as of this past weekend,” Alexander said. “I think he’s a really good receiver.”
Jaire Alexander's thoughts on #Vikings WR Justin Jefferson. Said he's a top-3 receiver in the NFL, but JJ's 9 receptions for 184 yards and 2 TDs in Week 1 against the #Packers was a "fluke." pic.twitter.com/yqZIoP6ktM
— John Miller (@JohnMillerNBC26) December 29, 2022
Packers CB Rasul Douglas Shared Alexander’s Sentiments
In the season opener, the Packers for whatever reason forgot to cover arguably the most dangerous receiver in the league. In fact, in the first matchup Douglas was usually the one assigned to covering Jefferson, being as though he played as the slot corner. And while, Jefferson is lethal from any of the receiver spots, he even more deadly out of the slot.
“I don’t remember that game,” Douglas said downplaying the outing to reporters. “I kind of knocked all the first half-season games away.”
Of course he did when he was responsible for Jefferson’s six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Packers CB Jaire Alexander calls Justin Jefferson's Week 1 game "a fluke"
"I don't mind the trash talk, but Jaire is out his damn mind. Justin Jefferson has an outside chance of 2,000 yards. Ain't nothing flukey about this, he's legit!" — @ShannonSharpe pic.twitter.com/qlEH0uiMTo
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) December 30, 2022
In this weekend’s matchup expect to see more of Alexander following Jefferson after comments saying he wished he could’ve covered Jefferson more. He’ll get his opportunity this time, and we’ll see if he’s up to the task.
Packers defensive coordinator pretty much reiterated Alexander’s sentiment during his Thursday media session.
“In an NFL football season, it was a long time ago,” Barry said. “But we’ve studied it, and we looked at it, and of course there’s things that they did that they still do. So of course we looked at those things. But you live and learn from every experience, and that’s definitely one we learned from and on to the next one.”
Jefferson On Record Pace
With 1,756 yards receiving and seven touchdowns through 15 games, Jefferson is on pace to break Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964 in 2012.
https://twitter.com/skolbros/status/1608837229375541249?s=46&t=zls_KXYt1Gi0-qYh5Ptbeg
While impressive Johnson did his in 16 games, unless Jefferson goes for 209 against the Packers, it’ll need an asterisk beside it being done in a 17-game season.
