The Vikings nearly doubled their passing volume in Sunday's loss to the Ravens vs. QB J.J. McCarthy's first three starts. The second-year QB attempted 42 throws against Baltimore after averaging just 22 per game heading into Week 10. But it didn't help the production of his team's top two wideouts. Justin Jefferson managed just 4 receptions for 37 yards despite drawing 12 targets against the Ravens. Jordan Addison tallied 3 catches for 35 yards among 11 targets.
Let's be fair here: It's not totally McCarthy's fault. Jefferson dropped this throw down the middle that probably should have become a TD:
Justin Jefferson was making faces and shrugging his shoulders when JJ McCarthy was struggling
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) November 9, 2025
Now a HUGE play
GREAT throw in traffic by McCarthy
And Jefferson DROPS it in the clutch
JJettas has been struggling all day long
pic.twitter.com/TlX4AY8Wgj
He also fell down on this deep throw from McCarthy that turned into an easy Baltimore INT ... and then Jefferson sure didn't seem to be going hard after CB Marlon Humphrey on the return:
I’m getting tired of Justin Jefferson crying every single week. Show some heart.#skol pic.twitter.com/qtdilx0wrW
— Jordan (@jayytesports) November 9, 2025
Pro Football Focus also charged Jefferson with a pair of drops in Minnesota's Week 1 win over the Bears, among his seven targets from McCarthy in that contest (though no other drops since then).
But according to Underdog's Hayden Winks, McCarthy sports the second-worst adjusted yards per pass attempt -- which also accounts for TDs and INTs -- among all Vikings starting QBs since Jefferson arrived. He leads only Josh Dobbs among that group and trails:
Through four McCarthy starts, Jefferson's averaging 4.25 reception and 52.3 yards. His other five contests this year found the star wideout averaging 6.8 catches and 95.4 yards.
Addison, meanwhile, has averaged 2.5 catches and 41.5 yards for his two games with McCarthy vs. 5.3 receptions and 77.3 yards otherwise.
The whole passing game gets a positive matchup with the Bears in Week 11. But the QB has yet to show he can take advantage of such situations. McCarthy's completing just 53.7% of his passes for the season and threw for only 143 yards in his Week 1 meeting with Chicago.
We'll have to adjust expectations for Jefferson's and Addison's numbers down until things pick up.
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