Why Lions Need to Worry about Vikings WR Justin Jefferson

Read more on why the Detroit Lions should worry about Justin Jefferson in their Week 3 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson has been the definition of an impact receiver since entering the league in 2020.

The 2020 first-round pick, out of LSU, recorded a 1,000-plus-yard receiving season in his very first campaign. He compiled 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, on 88 catches, as a rookie.

Then, he followed that up by amassing 1,616 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, on 108 receptions, in his second year as a pro. 

As a result of his standout play through his first two seasons, he's earned back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl, and has become one of the game's most respected and feared receivers.

Jefferson, now a third-year pro, is the NFC North's best receiver. He's accumulated 232 yards and two scores, via 15 catches, through the first two weeks of the 2022 campaign. 

Those numbers are far from shabby. However, he's coming off a Week 2 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles in which he and Vikings signal-caller Kirk Cousins connected on just six passes for 48 yards and zero scores. It was a rather pedestrian performance for Minnesota's No. 1 wideout.

But, now it means that he's due for a bounce-back game. And, his next opponent just happens to be the Detroit Lions.

Mark Hoffman, USA TODAY NETWORK

Jefferson has been nearly unstoppable in his career vs. the Lions. In four games against Detroit, he's produced 30 receptions for 503 yards and a score. Those 30 catches and 503 receiving yards are both career-high marks for Jefferson against an opponent. 

Additionally, a season ago, the play-making wideout recorded two games with north of 100 receiving yards against Detroit, including a career-best 11 receptions and 182 yards in Week 13 at Ford Field.

And, a week prior to his monstrous performance against the Lions, he had caught just four balls and had recorded no scores against the San Francisco 49ers. 

The above could be a bad omen for Aaron Glenn's defense in this Sunday's road contest with the Vikings.

Detroit's secondary does look improved through the first two weeks of the season, mostly due to the strides taken by third-year cornerback Jeff Okudah. 

Yet, it will still be a tall task for Okudah & Co. taking on Jefferson and trying to limit his production, especially if fellow starting corner Amani Oruwariye is forced to sit out a second straight week.

Simply said, the Lions need to make stopping Jefferson one of their top priorities on Sunday.