Watch for Texans to Shadow Vikings Justin Jefferson with Former LSU Teammate

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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings will host the Houston Texans on Sunday, at noon. Both teams are 2-0, meaning “somebody’s ‘O’ has got to go” (h/t: Common Man). If the Vikings can pull off a victory, they’d officially become the most shocking 3-0 team in the NFL this season, and probably in recent NFL history.

Nobody expected Minnesota to let Kirk Cousins walk, then lose their new 1st round pick QB to a season-ending knee injury, in the same offseason/preseason, yet emerge as a better overall team. But through two games, it’s difficult to deny the appearance of that reality.

But is it reality… or just a mirage? That’s what we do not know, yet. But beating one of the AFC favorites, just a week removed from outplaying and defeating a top NFC contender, would go a long way in making this early-season dream into real life. You know what else would help?

Justin Jefferson expected to play vs Houston Texans

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Having Justin Jefferson available, especially with Jordan Addison likely out, is a huge factor in this game. And there is good news, on that front. In all likelihood, the Minnesota Vikings superstar wide receiver, and highest-paid non-QB in the NFL, will be suited up Sunday. For more reasons than one.

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Look, if we know Justin is probably a go, then so do the Houston Texans. And when Justin Jefferson is suited up and on the field, he immediately becomes the defense’s number one priority. For good reason, too. We saw that play out again, last weekend. Remember JJ’s 97-yard reception from Sam Darnold, in which Justin ran a total of 127 yards for a touchdown?

Watch for Derek Stingley Jr to shadow his former LSU teammate

So, how will DeMeco Ryans — a former defensive coordinator — slow the Vikings superstar? Well, in an interview with Evan Groat at Sportsnaut.com, Sean Pendergast (of 610AM – Radio Home of the Texans), believes one very real possibility is shadowing Jefferson, throughout the game, with his former LSU teammate.

Derek Stingley Jr was drafted by the Texans picked No. 3 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. JJ and Stingley Jr played together at LSU for just one season, 2019, when they won a National Championship together.

“In week one, they let Stingley travel a little bit [against] the Colts. Then this this past week, they had Stingley Jr traveling with DJ Moore, and he made DJ Moore tap out by the end of that game. Stingley was fantastic in that game. I hope that they let Stingley travel with Justin Jefferson, just because we’ve seen the practice footage of these two going against each other, back at LSU. These are two guys that have a history with one another, so I I’m really hopeful that DeMeco [Ryan] does that.”

“I would be surprised if DeMeco [Ryan] just kind of laid back and let Justin Jefferson do his thing. You drafted Stingley third overall, for a reason. You started having him travel with number one receivers, for a reason. And there’s no more [of a] number one receiver than Justin Jefferson, in the NFL right now.”

Sean Pendergast – via Sportsnaut on YouTube

Stingley Jr vs Justin Jefferson makes sense for Texans

This move makes a lot of sense, for the Texans, if they believe Stingley is reaching “shutdown cornerback” status. Good offensive gameplans try to pin strengths vs weaknesses, and nobody does that better than O’Connell and his staff.

JJ can lineup everywhere. Some forget this, but he came into the league as a guy that many draft pundits believed was bound for career-long slot duty, since that’s where he made a lot of his hay at LSU. Now, he’s one of the most dynamic receivers in the league, from the X, Y and Z positions.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Lose Another Tight End to Injury

If a defense is static with their cornerback positioning, the Vikings will scheme up plays that keep Jefferson away from their more talented defensive backs, when possible. By shadowing Justin, with Derek, the Texans would hope to alleviate a reoccuring matchup problem.

Of course, pre-snap movements and a variety of other counters are available to the Minnesota Vikings offense, should Stingley Jr be following Justin Jefferson around the field, again adding more intrigue to the chess match between KOC, Darnold and JJ vs DeMeco Ryan, Stingley Jr, and the rest of the Texans defense.

If you think the Minnesota Vikings aren’t ready for Stingley Jr to shadow Justin Jefferson, you are wrong. One reason why Kevin O’Connell believes JJ absolutely will not miss Sunday’s game is because of the matchup vs Derek Stingley Jr.

“I wouldn’t discount the Stingley aspect of it, either. Those two, the LSU side of things. He’s becoming one of the premier [cornerbacks in the league]. Yeah… before the end of the week, that storyline might materialize a little bit between those two guys, I know they’re close.”

Kevin O’Connell on KFAN Radio this week

Huge matchup with a ton to prove on both sides

Not only was Minnesota projected to finish at the bottom of the NFC North, prior to the season, but most sportsbooks and pundits had them starting 1-2, as a best-case scenario.

The Vikings were bad last year at home (2-8), and they had two of the best teams in each conference — the Niners and Texans — coming to U.S. Bank Stadium in weeks one and two. But that’s why football games are played on the field, not on paper.

Related: 4 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Vikings’ Week 3 Matchup vs Texans

Because there’s no slow start to be seen, in Eagan. On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings have a chance to climb up to 3-0, before heading to Lambeau vs the Green Bay Packers, for their first division matchup of the young 2024 season.

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