Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall were on hand at the Super Bowl LX media center last week on behalf of D1 Training.
Since the NFL offseason has officially begun, we asked each of them about their offseason training and workout routines.
Justin Jefferson
With J.J. McCarthy struggling through injuries and inconsistency in his first year as the Minnesota Vikings quarterback, it’s no surprise that Justin Jefferson had the least-productive season of his career — and still he had 1,084 yards on 84 receptions. Over his six NFL seasons, Jufferson is averaging 96.5 catches for 1,413 yards.
AP: What’s your offseason workout like?
JJ: I definitely put in a lot of hours. Working on the things that I feel are my weaknesses that I need to make into my strengths. Especially after looking at last season and see where I struggle. This is the time to emphasize the little things and work on fixing things.
AP: As a receiver, how big do you want to get?
JJ: With all the running that you’re doing, your body has to be in-between. You don’t want to be too big, but you don’t want to be too small. You want that speed and agility. If you get too heavy, it makes you a little stiff. You want to stay at a good weight that fits your body.
AP: How much can you bench?
JJ: I don’t even know. One time?
AP: One time.
JJ: 250. That’s college. When you get to the pros, you don't do all that heavy lifting anymore.
AP: What about bicep curls?
JJ: I do curls. Now, you know what I'm saying? Got to keep the guns going.
AP: Who can bench more, you or your quarterback, J.J. McCarthy?
JJ: Oh, me for sure. Me for sure.
AP: He looks pretty strong.
JJ: Not stronger than the Jet.
Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Bryce Young
In his third season since being the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young had a breakout year and helped the Carolina Panthers reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Young set career highs in completion percentage (63.6), yards (3,011) and TD passes (23).
AP: What’s your offseason workout like?
BY: First it starts with evaluation. You evaluate your body. You evaluate your play. Make sure you have a plan each offseason. After that, making sure you’re consistent. A mix of weight room and running, explosive work. Body work. Making sure that you’re healing and recovering quickly. Then going on field and throwing — attacking areas to improve. It’s a thorough process.
AP: How important is it to lift the right way? Do you follow the Tom Brady model of focusing on pliability?
BY: One hundred percent. You have to make sure that the lifting you do is applicable, not trying to max out and getting a new PR (personal record). It’s about strengthening the stuff that’s functional for me as a thrower. Making sure that I’m still fluid in my motion and that I still have flexibility. And try to increase the range of motion. Strength that translates to football.
AP: Who’s the biggest animal in the weight room on the Panthers?
BY: Corbs! (Austin Corbett). Between Corbs and Chuba [Hubbard]. DB (Derrick Brown), too. We got some guys who get after it in the weight room. We have a great strength team.
AP: You ever get in there and show the big guys how it’s done by throwing up some major weight?
BY: Literally never. That has not happened.
Ricky Pearsall
After being taken late in the first round of the 2024 draft, wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s rookie season was limited when he suffered a serious gunshot wound during a robbery attempt just before the season began. Other injuries took a toll in 2025, but Pearsall started nine games for the San Francisco 49ers, catching 36 passes for 528 yards.
AP: Tell me about your offseason workout plan?
RP: It’s starts with little things. You have to be detail oriented. For me, taking care of my body, get in the weight room. Then route-running, although that comes deeper in the offseason. For now, focus on recovery.
AP: Is it hard to keep your energy up in the beginning of the offseason, when football is so far away?
RP: It’s not, because of all the people that are in my corner. When I have my bad days, they’re right by my side. The key is routine. Stick to the same routine every day and never switch it up.
AP: There’ s a report that the 49ers want to keep backup quarterback Mac Jones. What did you think of playing with Jones this season?
RP: He did a tremendous job. To step up in that role like that. Brock Purdy is a great quarterback. As soon as he went down, he was still heavily involved in the [quarterback] room. I think that helped Mac a lot and gave him confidence. That was only year one for Mac in that [Mike] Shanahan system. He did a great job making plays.
AP: Who can bench more — Brock Purdy or Mac Jones?
RP: I think I’ll go with Brock on that one.