Vikings star Justin Jefferson still has sights set on sixth 1,000-yard receiving season

Justin Jefferson said he wants to finish this disappointing Vikings season as a consistent team captain and leader, but also with his sixth straight 1,000-yard receiving season.

Jefferson needs 190 yards — or a 48-yard average over the last four games — to get there.

“That’s always a goal every single year,” Jefferson said. “Just with the difficulty of this season, the adversity, a lot has gone on over this year. To be able to still overcome that and to get 1,000 yards is something a lot of people are not able to do even with the best situation.”

“Hopefully,” he added, “this is one of my breakout games.”

Jefferson is looking to spark his connection with quarterback J.J. McCarthy on “Sunday Night Football” against the Dallas Cowboys. Jefferson is coming off a career-worst 15 yards over a two-game span. McCarthy has struggled to connect with all of his targets, averaging only 156 passing yards through seven starts.

The 1,000-yard mark would keep Jefferson in pursuit of Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans' NFL-record 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to begin a career. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice holds the record for most 1,000-yard receiving seasons at 14.

Jefferson also pointed out that the prime-time lights haven’t always been favorable to his Vikings. Under coach Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings are 5-10 in nighttime kickoffs.

Jefferson, 26, said he’s had to “learn how to be patient.”

“Overcoming the adversity of having a new quarterback,” Jefferson said. “Having to learn some new things. It’s tough, you know, because you want to win.

“You want to be a big part of the offense and a big part of having the yards and everything, but sometimes you have to sacrifice that to be a leader; to be the person that has that good energy throughout the week even though things aren’t going the best.”

Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and running back Ty Chandler are listed as questionable to play at Dallas because of knee injuries.

Darrisaw returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday’s sessions. He has routinely missed Thursday practices, but he has not missed two practices and played since Oct. 5 against the Browns in London. Darrisaw is about 13½ months removed from surgery to repair multiple torn ligaments in his left knee.

Safety Theo Jackson and defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez have been cleared to return from neck injuries.

Receiver Jordan Addison should play a normal workload, O’Connell said, despite being limited in practices this week because of an Achilles issue. Addison said he has tendinitis that he has previously managed.

“Just a product of normal, December football and soreness,” O’Connell said.

Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb has cleared the concussion protocol, but Dallas will be without left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle).

The Cowboys listed three players questionable: tight end Jake Ferguson (calf), edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee).

“The closest I’ll get to playing at home other than playing in Arizona,” Jones said. “A lot of people who have seen me play coming up get to come back and kind of watch me play there as well, so it’s always a special place to play. I just feel like I’m able to get into a groove there.”

Jones has dominated the Cowboys during each of his previous three trips in 2017, ’19, and a January 2024 playoff victory with Green Bay. He has averaged 149 yards from scrimmage and scored eight rushing touchdowns.

Jones grew up an Emmitt Smith fan, attending Cowboys games with his late father, Alvin Jones Sr.