Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson made the most of a game with little on the line between Minnesota and the Detroit Lions recording his name in NFL history twice on Sunday afternoon.
Entering Week 17 with 1,267 receiving yards, Jefferson needed 111 yards at the Vikings ’season finale to set a new Super Bowl-era rookie record (since 1966). He broke the mark set by Arizona’s Anquan Boldin (1,377) in 2003 after taking a 37-yard pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter. The first-place finisher is now the second-all-time behind Houston’s Bill Groman, who holds the rookie record of 1,473 reception yards set in 1960.
Prior to that, Jefferson set a franchise rookie record by receiving yards. With three custom tacks honoring the famous Randy Moss, Jefferson took a 15-yard pass in the third quarter to break the Vikings ’rookie record (1,313) set by Moss in 1998.
Last month, Jefferson surpassed the Moss season’s 69-catch mark in his rookie season. Sunday saw the seventh game of the season for the former LSU star.