MINNEAPOLIS — In a personal second final week, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson despatched a textual content message to one in every of his heroes. Jefferson had heard that Corridor of Fame receiver Randy Moss was being handled for most cancers, and he wished to want him good luck.
A couple of days later, he made that tribute public. Jefferson gave Moss a shoutout Monday night time after catching a 7-yard landing go within the first quarter of the Vikings’ 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears, trying into the ESPN digital camera and shouting: “We love you, Randy. That is for you.”
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After the sport, Jefferson spoke in heartfelt tones within the Vikings’ locker room.
“I am grateful for what he has accomplished for this recreation,” Jefferson mentioned whereas carrying a purple duplicate Moss jersey, “and what he has accomplished for me as a child. Simply watching him and being a fan of him, I’ve at all times acquired to point out like to him.”
Moss introduced Friday that he had undergone a six-hour surgical procedure to take away a cancerous mass from his bile duct, after earlier having a stent positioned in his liver. He mentioned he was hospitalized for six days and could be present process radiation and chemotherapy remedy whereas taking a depart from his function as an analyst on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
The Vikings opened Monday night time’s recreation by sending two of Moss’ former teammates, Cris Carter and Jake Reed, to midfield as honorary captains in the course of the coin toss. Every held one aspect of a Moss jersey, prompting him to reply through X: “LUV U ALL.”
LUV U ALL!#letsmosscancer https://t.co/925w4LJhNN
— Randy Moss (@RandyMoss) December 17, 2024
“It was wonderful seeing these guys,” Jefferson mentioned. “These are the blokes earlier than us. These are the large three earlier than me, [Jalen Nailor] and [Jordan Addison] got here in. … They had been brothers after they had been taking part in and nonetheless are. It is nice to see the quantity of affection they nonetheless have for one another.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was Moss’ teammate in 2008 when each had been with the New England Patriots, mentioned the Vikings met internally final week to resolve easy methods to honor him.
“You might really feel the love for him within the constructing tonight,” O’Connell mentioned “He means the world to this group. His identify is up within the rafters within the Ring of Honor, He is a Corridor of Famer … and we’re behind him each step of the best way. Care about him, love him. We simply wished to do no matter we might with the platform of ‘Monday Night time Soccer.’ Hopefully, he was watching and if it gave him any pleasure in any respect, it was effectively price it as a result of that is how we really feel about him.”
