Not long after the Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell to be their head coach, he got the chance to talk to Justin Jefferson for the first time. The conversation spanned a variety of topics as O’Connell shared his vision with Jefferson. He made it clear that the ascending superstar was going to be instrumental in making everything come to life for the Vikings. As he listened to O’Connell dive into some of the details, Jefferson had a simple question that had been weighing on his mind. It stemmed from watching the Los Angeles Rams go on a playoff run that ended with them winning Super Bowl LVI. “How is Cooper Kupp always so open?” Jefferson asked O’Connell. “How?” The answer was pretty simple. “You’ve got to learn the whole offense,” O’Connell told Jefferson. “You’ve got to learn every single position.” To further hammer home that point, O’Connell went on to explain how the Rams used Kupp as the ultimate chess piece. Sometimes he would split out wide. Sometimes he would line up in the slot. Sometimes he would break the huddle and trot into the backfield. It was an idea implemented by Sean McVay as the head coach and reinforced by O’Connell as the offensive coordinator. The thought was that it would be challenging for opposing teams to prepare for a moving target. It proved to be nearly impossible as Kupp hauled in 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns during the 2021 season. That ridiculous stat line made it easy for O’Connell to sell Jefferson on being used in a similar role. If he was willing to put in the work required to learn the intricacies of the playbook, O’Connell promised Jefferson that he would put up those type of numbers. The results spoke for themselves as Jefferson hauled in 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2022 season. “I’ve definitely been dialed in ever since,” Jefferson said. “I wanted to be on that same level.” It’s fitting that the anecdote came up with the Vikings set to play the Rams on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Many of the principles that O’Connell learned under McVay with the Rams have continued to be a guiding light for him with the Vikings. Now they will be going up against each other for the first time. “I have so much respect for him,” O’Connell said. “He’s as good as he gets.” Though he has put his own spin on a lot of the stuff he does with the Vikings, O’Connell still speaks glowingly about his time with the Rams. He referenced how he was actively involved in the preparation on a weekly basis and how that played a role in building his confidence. “That’s among the things that probably made me feel so prepared for this job,” O’Connell said. “His willingness to allow me to be a part of things that maybe at some other places offensive coordinators aren’t a part of.” That’s not something O’Connell takes lightly. It’s a big reason why he credits McVay with helping him reach the highest level in the profession. The fact that the experience culminated with O’Connell and McVay getting to celebrate together after winning Super Bowl LVI is a bonus. “I’ve got nothing but love for him,” O’Connell said. “It’ll always be like that.” The feelings are mutual based on what McVay told reporters in Los Angeles this week when asked about O’Connell. Not only did McVay laud O’Connell for the impact he made during his time with the Rams, he also celebrated the success he has had during his time with the Vikings. “Not surprised,” McVay said. “I’m happy for those guys and we’ll give them our best shot.” As for what McVay might have in store for him in primetime, O’Connell said he’s not making the matchup with his good friend bigger than it is. “You can’t get too carried away with that,” O’Connell said with a laugh. “It’s still going to be 11 players in Vikings uniforms playing against 11 players in Rams uniforms.” Briefly The final injury report for the Vikings listed linebacker Blake Cashman (toe) as out and tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee), right guard Dalton Risner (back) and cornerback Akayleb Evans (hip) as questionable. Related Articles Minnesota Vikings | Vikings at Rams picks: Kevin O’Connell returns to his old stomping grounds Minnesota Vikings | Vikings at Rams: What to know ahead of Week 8 matchup Minnesota Vikings | The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 8: All over league, receivers are dropping Minnesota Vikings | Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold downplays homecoming in Southern California Minnesota Vikings | What’s a word that best describes Vikings running back Cam Akers? Resilient.