When you are a mega-star, the other team is going to key in on you and try to make you as ineffective as possible. The old-school method of doing so is to hit them as hard as you can, or in essence, take them out.
Teams have been doing what they can to minimize the impact of Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, including some hard hits.
The Vikings are growing concerned with how many hits, especially illegal ones, he has been taking in recent weeks. Head coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned as such unprompted during his Monday media availability.
“Clearly there is an emphasis on the teams we’re playing. Some of those hits, they don’t just seem to be by accident at times. I think we’ve got to protect him a little bit better. Great to get the flags, but … he’s too important to our league. Seems like a weekly occurrence at this point.”
According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Jefferson has played the most snaps (881) and run the most routes (573) in the NFL while also leading the league in receptions (111) and yardage (1,623) through 14 games.
The Vikings have every right to be concerned, especially when you consider how spotty officiating has been this season.