Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson can only keep a cool head for so long.
Weathering the team’s quarterback crisis, Jefferson reached a boiling point on Thursday night during a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Trailing 21-7 at halftime, the Vikings’ offense hit a failure to launch with Carson Wentz clearly not at 100% while playing through a shoulder injury in an eventual 37-10 loss.
Read more: Vikings QB Carson Wentz Gets Dire Career Update Before Chargers Game
In a post that garnered three million views on X, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis noted a dejected Jefferson on the team’s sidelines, describing the star receiver as “livid” while walking “very slowly” and alone toward the locker room — leading to many concerns from the fan base about his future in Minnesota.
“Jefferson aggressively tossed his helmet onto its perch. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown approached him in an attempt at consolation, but Jefferson stood alone then simmered by himself as he walked toward the locker room,” Lewis detailed after the game.
“Don’t blame him at all,” one fan wrote. “Vikings are wasting away one of the greatest receivers to ever play.”
“Trade request coming soon,” another fan added.
“[We’re] gonna lose our number 1 wr,” a third fan replied.
Since the Kirk Cousins era, Jefferson has been a barometer for the Vikings’ quarterback situation, which has yet to become stable with the many changes made over the years. In his sixth season in the NFL, Jefferson has had eight different quarterbacks throwing to him.
After passing on Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers to forge ahead with their plans with J.J. McCarthy this season, the Vikings (3-4) have struggled and have an uphill battle in the playoff chase. The clock is ticking for Jefferson, who has not won a playoff game is his career in Minnesota.
Read more: Vikings Get Major Jordan Addison News Ahead of NFL Trade Deadline
Jefferson, visibly frustrated in the locker room after the loss to the Chargers, sent his team a wake-up call.
“Keep our head up and of course attack what’s in front of us,” Jefferson said of what his team needs to do. “Not allow the adversity and the losses to hinder us or get in our way. It’s not about reflecting on the bad things or the loss. This is about what we’re going to do moving forward, this upcoming practice, this upcoming week, and just trying to attack it head-on and see where it takes us.”
For more on the Vikings and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
