CHICAGO — It's official: No wide receiver in Vikings history has had a better start to his career than Justin Jefferson.
The second-year pro set another major milestone in Purple, this one coming Monday night as he now has the most receiving yards through any Vikings player's first two seasons in the league.
Jefferson had started his evening by playing catch with Randy Moss and Steve Young. Moss informed the 2020 first-round pick that he had been selected to the 2022 Pro Bowl.
By the time Minnesota's 17-9 victory over Chicago ended at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football, Jefferson had topped Moss' mark for receiving yards by a Vikings player in his first two pro seasons.
Moss totaled 2,726 in his first two pro seasons (1998-99). Jefferson entered the game with 2,688 and needing 39 to overtake Moss.
Jefferson totaled 34 yards on three catches in the first half that included a 12-yard touchdown. He added just one catch in the second half for a gain of 13.
The 47 yards on the night give Jefferson 2,735. He needs 21 more to break the NFL record set by Odell Beckham, Jr., who recorded 2,755 receiving yards in his first two seasons in the league with the Giants (2014-15).
Jefferson set a Super Bowl-era rookie record by racking up 1,400 receiving yards in 2020. He has continued his dominance so far in 2021, as he entered Week 15 with 1,288 receiving yards (the second-most in the league).
He now has 89 receptions on the season, which is one more than he totaled last season, and nine touchdown catches.
