Report: Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson Building Up Some Sparkling Chemistry

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

The Minnesota Vikings are three weeks into 2024 training camp. They will play their first preseason game on Saturday, and all reports coming out of TCO Performance Center have both new quarterbacks, Sam Darnold and rookie JJ McCarthy, are performing above expectations.

Justin Jefferson and Sam Darnold building up chemistry

But one thing continues to stick out, whenever Justin Jefferson is in the building (which has not been an everyday occurrence). According to Will Ragatz (SI), who’s been on-site in Eagan all training camp, the Vikings’ 25-year-old superstar wide receiver is building some “sparkling” chemistry with the 27-year-old Darnold, and it’s showing up at practices on a regular basis.

[It was] an excellent afternoon from Darnold, whose chemistry with Justin Jefferson continues to sparkle. Once a top draft pick himself, Darnold has been through a lot — most of it bad — in his six years in the NFL. He looks like an experienced veteran, which is why he’s the heavy favorite to be the Vikings’ starter when the regular season begins in a month.

Will Ragatz – Sports Illustrated

Darnold needed Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold’s career needed Justin Jefferson like his life needs air. Seriously, could you think of any better elixor for a pending bust quarterback, who’s getting his final opportunity to start in the league, than a phenom weapon like JJ?

Throw in Kevin O’Connell on top and it’s pretty apparent that, if Sam can’t succeed in Minnesota, he won’t succeed anywhere. But the way it’s sounding at TCO this summer, we shouldn’t have to worry about that, because Darnold has looked fantastic.

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By all accounts, No. 10 overall pick, JJ McCarthy is way ahead of schedule in the development plan that KOC has laid out for him. Still, that progress has done very little in the way of usurping Darnold as Minnesota’s QB1. By most reports, it’s been very much a back and forth preseason between the two.

Related: Does Kirk Cousins Regret Leaving the Minnesota Vikings?

So if I’m Sam Darnold, and I have a talented young rookie nipping at my heels, I’d be doing my best to build chemistry with the wide receiver who the franchise just locked up for over $30 million per season. It won’t fend McCarthy off forever, but it’s absolutely the right place to start.

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