Jalen Nailor says Vikings ‘have what it takes’ to win Super Bowl

Through five games in 2024, Minnesota Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor has more receiving touchdowns than he did in the first two years of his career. Nailor, who has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons, is on track for a breakout season this year, having already firmly established himself as the Vikings’ third-ranked wide receiver.

The difference this season? Especially his health.

“Just being healthy and staying true to myself, staying true to the game plan and executing when I have the opportunity,” Nailor told Kay Adams on FanDuel TV. Up and Adams Tuesday when asked about his good start.

Nailor is on track to have the best season of his career. In five games, he has eight receptions for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Nailor’s previous career highs in receptions and yards came in 2022, when he had nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. Health has certainly played a major role in his success this season, but Nailor also had high praise for Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell for helping him get separation on his routes.

“My technique in and out of my breaks and just finishing the course,” Nailor told Adams about why he’s gained so many splits this season. “The course is never won at the beginning, it is won at the end, it is all along the course. Working with Keenan McCardell, he’s helped me so much just become a more complete receiver. He played 17 years in the league, so I just learn from him, everything he tells me, I just try to incorporate it into my game.”

It certainly also helps to play alongside a superstar receiver like Justin Jefferson. It was Jefferson who predicted big things for Nailor before the season, and so far, Nailor has proven him right.

There are things Nailor, who says he’s the fastest player on the team, would also like to learn from Jefferson’s game.

“With (Jefferson), there’s no such thing as 50-50 balls,” Nailor said. “Anything that’s offered to him, he takes it, so that’s what I’m really trying to improve in my game is making those contested catches and just being available.”

Nailor’s Vikings are 5-0 in five games this season and are in the middle of a bye week. But at the end of the day, the NFL is challenging, and things won’t get any easier when the Vikings return to the field next week. The first game after the break is against the defending NFC North champions, the Detroit Lions, on October 20 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The game could go far in the division race.

“We have the right people in our building to accomplish the things we need to do this year, and that means winning a Super Bowl,” Nailor said. “I think we have what it takes, and winning this game (against the Lions) will show that we are not to be trifled with.”