Justin Jefferson reveals getting beefed up to fight off Lions’ "hands on" defenders as Detroit piles up holding flags

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has revealed how he’s preparing ahead of his side’s clash with the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The Vikings will be counting on the LSU alum to get past the Lions' defense, one of the toughest in the league, when they meet.

The four-time Pro Bowler has hatched a plan on how best to face Detroit’s defense, sharing the nuggets with the media in a Thursday interview. He said:

“Looking at it, seeing the past games, they’ve been penalized one of the most in the league. Just trying to work on getting off the hold; we know it’s gonna happen, and it’s not really something we are gonna complain about to the refs. It’s just all about playing through the contact.”

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The Vikings finished behind the Lions in the NFC North last season. While the Lions look to be on course for another playoff, sitting in No. 2 behind Green Bay, the Vikings are looking lost this season.

Sitting at the bottom of its division with a 3-4 record, Minnesota needs a turnaround, which it will be hoping to start on Sunday. For that, it will depend on Justin Jefferson’s propensity for getting past defenders.

Jefferson is No. 5 in the league in receiving yards with 602 yards in 41 receptions. However, on the other side would be another explosive receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown, who leads the league in receiving touchdowns (7).

The Vikings are heading into Sunday’s game navigating injuries at quarterback, with J.J. McCarthy expected to return after being out since Week 2. His replacement, Carson Wentz, is out for the remainder of the year with an injured shoulder.

Justin Jefferson’s take on J.J. McCarthy’s return

The chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers is one of the strong pillars that hold offenses. For Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings’ receivers corps, J.J. McCarthy’s return is another significant change in an already bumpy season.

Jefferson spoke to the press on Thursday about the quarterback’s return, saying:

“Looks good. Just going through the plays, going through the motions, dialing up the connection, and, of course, expanding the relationship that we have out there on the field. So it’s been great. I feel like he has the confidence to go out there and do what we expect him to do.”

The Lions vs. Vikings game is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Edited by Kayode Akinwumi