Justin Jefferson ‘not mad at’ Kirk Cousins for leaving Vikings
When the Minnesota Vikings take the field for the 2024 season, Kirk Cousins won’t be in charge of the offense.
It marks the first time that star wide receiver Justin Jefferson will play without Cousins in his brief NFL career. Although he would have wanted the Pro Bowler quarterback to return, the All-Pro wideout, during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show, voiced that he understood his former teammate’s decision to leave.
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“I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for his businesses-wise,” Jefferson said via ESPN. “And I just knew that everything just wasn’t the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys. I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I’m not mad at him at all for that. I’m grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we have accomplished together.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a business and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do for yourself and for your family, and I clearly understand that. But it’s on to the next. It doesn’t really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes. I’m always going to try to make the best of the opportunity. I’m always going to try to be the quarterback’s friend and make his job a lot easier. It doesn’t matter if it was Kirk or if it’s Sam or if it’s J.J. I’m going to make it as easy as possible for him.”
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Cousins held the desire to stay with the Vikings, but the organization couldn’t match anywhere near the four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million guaranteed over the first three years from the Atlanta Falcons.
The Vikings are moving in another direction with Sam Darnold getting the nod as the starter for the time being over rookie J.J. McCarthy.
