Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings enter Week 12 of the 2025 NFL regular season seeking a way out of a slump to also prevent a disastrous three-game losing skid.
Already under .500 with a 4-6 record and situated last in the NFC North standings, the Vikings are trying to make a strong push for the 2025 NFL playoffs. They will befacing the Green Bay Packers this Sunday in a crucial game at Lambeau Field, with JJ McCarthy starting at quarterback for Minnesota.
McCarthy is coming off an underwhelming performance in Week 11’s 19-17 loss to the Chicago Bears at home, in which he threw for just 150 passing yards and a touchdown with two interceptions on 16-of-32 pass completions.
It has been that kind of season thus far for the former Michigan Wolverines star quarterback. In five games played in the 2025 campaign, he has completed just 52.9 percent of his throws for 842 passing yards and six touchdowns against six interceptions. He has also been sacked 15 times, to date.
Justin Jefferson shows support for McCarthy ahead of Vikings-Packers
Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws downfield during the second quarter against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Unsurprisingly, McCarthy has been getting plenty of criticism for the subpar quality of his overall performance, but Jefferson will always have his back.
“With all of the criticism and all of the hateful messages he’s probably been getting—he can turn on SportsCenter and hear people talking negatively about him—I’m just trying to be that person he can lean on and talk to,” Jefferson said of McCarthy (h/tCole Sullivan of Newsweek).
Jefferson hasn’t been as productive on the field as many expected him to be entering the 2025 season, though he is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark again. On the season, the former LSU Tigers star wide receiver has 842 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 56 catches and 93 targets. His chemistry with McCarthy will be tested anew this weekendagainst the Packers, whose defense is allowing just 195.3 passing yards per game.
Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) hugs Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
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