New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed engages in mini-beef with Justin Jefferson
The much-hyped duel between Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was not the one-on-one battle that non-Jets followers expected it to be. Jets fans knew that Jefferson would face both of the Jets’ corners: Gardner and D.J. Reed.
It turned out to be a fun matchup between Jefferson and the Jets’ corners, with Reed being the subject of the most notable plays. Reed had an impressive pass breakup on Jefferson but also let up a touchdown catch to the Vikings’ star. Ultimately, the Jets held Jefferson to fairly modest numbers by his standards: 7 catches on 11 targets for 45 yards and 1 touchdown.
After the game, Reed seemed mostly happy with his performance. Reed told the media that he was “in [Jefferson’s] [expletive] all game”, and that Jefferson just got “that one route” on him.
Jefferson wasn’t buying it.
The man ironically nicknamed “Jet” took to Twitter, where he said Reed “can’t talk having safety help”. Jefferson implored Reed to give him a call when his coach trusts him to one-on-one.
Warning: NSFW language used in tweet below
In what shit😂😂You can’t talk having safety help…call me when yo coach trust you to go 1v1 https://t.co/RTC6crOe3k
— JJETS✈️ (@JJettas2) December 5, 2022
When covering Jefferson, Reed allowed three catches on five targets for 20 yards and one touchdown with one pass breakup. He also got called for a holding penalty on Jefferson. Considering the matchup, it was a respectable outing.
Gardner was not challenged against Jefferson as often, allowing one catch on two targets for 10 yards.
It’s worth mentioning that Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins bailed the Jets’ corners out with some errant throws when Jefferson was open. Still, the Jets should be happy with the numbers they limited Jefferson to in this one, despite Jefferson’s confidence on Twitter.