The Minnesota Vikings have benefited from picking Justin Jefferson, like Randy Moss in 1998. The NFL All-Pro wide receiver has been great, and that may be understated.
Jefferson has wowed league fans with his skills and ridiculous figures. The former LSU star resumed that pattern in Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football debut.
Jefferson raised the bar in the Vikings' game against the Eagles. He became the second NFL receiver to achieve 5,000 yards before 25.
Moss was the other receiver to do this, putting him in exclusive company. Although Jefferson joined another squad, he entered elite company. That other team? Chicago Bears, Vikings' longtime NFC North rivals.
Justin Jefferson has more career receiving yards than any Chicago Bears receiver in team history at 24. “All 100+ years,” Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson wrote Thursday night.
The statistic may surprise you, but it's true. Pro Football Reference lists Johnny Morris as the Bears' all-time leading receiver.
Morris was a flanker for Chicago from 1958-1967. Morris had 5,059 receiving yards in 121 games. From 1954-1961, Harlon Hill gained 4,616 yards.
Justin Jefferson had 4,975 receiving yards in 51 games entering Thursday's contest. Jefferson gained 159 yards against the Eagles in his 52nd game. That boosted his career receiving yards to 5,134, surpassing Morris' 5,059 yards.