Vikings' Justin Jefferson shares warning for J.J. McCarthy after Kyler Murray signing

Throughout the winter, Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson made it known that he didn't "have an elite quarterback" this past season as 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy struggled with injury issues and stretches of poor performances. 

The Vikings have since signed Kyler Murray to a team-friendly one-year contract. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Jefferson shared somewhat of a warning for McCarthy regarding what is to come now that Murray is on the Minnesota roster. 

Justin Jefferson: J.J. McCarthy has to step up to win competition versus Kyler Murray

"I'm definitely looking for those big, exciting plays [from Murray]," Jefferson acknowledged, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "I'm definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, his arm strength that he's shown countless times over the years. And then for J.J., for somebody to enter that room with that type of ability, that type of talent, he's got to step it up a little bit. So it's good for him to feel that type of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say, 'It's either now or I'm going to take that back seat again.' So it's all a competitive mindset when it comes to these type of things. So it's all about who's ready for that moment and who's ready to step up and take that initiative."

While Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has insisted that he wants to give McCarthy a chance to "compete" and see where the signal-caller "could take this thing," most local and national reporters have named Murray as the favorite to enter September as Minnesota's QB1. A recent report indicated that McCarthy doesn't have much value as a tradeable asset if he wanted a fresh start after injuries limited him to just 10 regular-season starts over his first two pro campaigns.

"It's really good to get some good talent in the room to give a little spark in that room," Jefferson continued, "to see a competitive edge and from those guys to really lock in and to do what we're expecting them to do, which is to come in and to be that guy. And we need that one guy for this team. So I'm definitely excited for that room, excited to see what those guys have in store for us in training camp."

Justin Jefferson hasn't given up on J.J. McCarthy yet?

Jefferson's previous comments could have led one to believe that he was ready for the club to move on from McCarthy. On Monday, the wideout revealed that he and McCarthy met on multiple occasions over the past few months in Minnesota.

"Really just anywhere where we can meet up and find time to really throw the ball to each other," Jefferson said about those sessions with McCarthy. "And it really doesn't have to be having to run 30 different routes, but it's all about just feeling the ball coming and seeing the ball coming out of his hand and then just feeling the impact and the velocity of his football. So it's great to just get that timing down pat, starting way earlier now than starting in training camp. So just getting a little head start, and it definitely feels good working with him."

It remains to be seen whether those offseason workouts will help McCarthy defeat Murray in a battle for the starting job that some think is already decided.