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EAGAN, Minn. — Last week, K.J. Osborn entered what he and one of his closest friends call “Buffalo Mode.” It’s a mindset. One he has possessed since he was a two-star recruit who was passed up by every Division I school but one: Buffalo.

How would you describe Buffalo Mode?

“We just put our head down and grind and grind and work,” Osborn said.

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It’s Wednesday morning inside the TCO Performance Center. Osborn, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., which is about 35 miles west of Detroit’s Ford Field, is taking a few minutes away from his preparations for this weekend’s homecoming — Osborn’s Vikings play at the Lions on Sunday — to talk.

He sits on a gray couch in a room adjacent to the locker room. An olive-green hoodie covers his braided hair. Osborn, who starred at Buffalo before transferring to Miami and later becoming a fifth-round pick, is discussing why he re-entered Buffalo Mode recently during his third NFL season.

“I’m my own worst critic,” he says. “I want to be open every play. I don’t care if it’s a sit-down route or a route I’m supposed to be matched to help get somebody else open.”

You may think this is all about the numbers. In 12 games this season, Osborn has 30 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Osborn knows those statistics. He understands others are anxious about them. And yet he sees the big picture, what the metrics really mean. This year, Buffalo Mode means more than grinding primarily for himself.

“My role is to be a do-it-all guy,” he said. “I’ve embraced that.”

In February, once the Vikings hired Kevin O’Connell to be their head coach, several narratives became clear.

The Vikings would utilize an immense amount of 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three receivers), similar to the Los Angeles Rams. This excited Minnesota’s skill players and has held true. Only four teams have used 11 personnel this season more than the Vikings.

Justin Jefferson would assume the Cooper Kupp role in O’Connell’s offense. From a receiving production standpoint, that has held true. The narrative, though, glosses over a key element: Kupp had a primary role in the Rams’ run-blocking schemes; Jefferson, meanwhile, possesses more down-field receiving prowess.

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O’Connell and the Vikings’ offensive staff were tasked with the challenge of creatively extracting the most useful attributes of each player. They’ve done that by thrusting Jefferson into a receiver’s dream role: running routes and catching passes as the primary option with minimal blocking responsibilities.

“K.J. does some of the stuff Cooper did in the run game for us,” Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell said.

Even the advanced metrics show the similarities between Kupp and Osborn from an alignment standpoint.

Last season, for example, Kupp lined up for 418 snaps within 2 yards of the hashes, which was more than any other receiver in the NFL, per PFF. The alignment closely resembles 12 personnel (heavier bodies) and can benefit the offense because it confuses defenses and forces them to make a choice: match the offense with heavier personnel (to play the run more effectively) or match the offense with lighter personnel (to play the pass more effectively).

Here’s a visual:

This season, Osborn has amassed 200 snaps within 2 yards of the hashes, which is third most in the NFL (and already 60 more than he had last season). From that spot, Osborn has blocked on 99 of the snaps while running routes on 101 of them.

“He’s just very versatile,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said.

Here’s another visual:

Osborn became aware of the role before the season. While walking down the hall one day, O’Connell relayed his vision to Osborn.

“He knew he could use me to do a lot of different things, kind of like a chess piece,” Osborn said. “I can block. I can go out for passes. Whatever he needs me to do. I’m used everywhere.”

During training camp, the role necessitated additional blocking reps and a deep-seated understanding of the playbook. During the season, the role has, at times, led to a bevy of snaps without receiving a target. That is to say: Osborn will release off the line of scrimmage and run routes largely to open up the field for others, rather than seeking receiving targets and individual numbers.

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His teammates understand that challenge. They empathize.

“K.J. has a tricky role,” Jefferson said, “because he doesn’t get as many balls as he wants. Of course, he would want a bigger part and to do more than he already has been doing (in the passing game), but he comes up clutch whenever his name is called, whenever the ball is thrown to him. And I mean, he’s a great teammate.”

Despite that, Osborn’s name has been called in numerous high-leverage situations. In Week 3 against Detroit, Osborn hauled in the game-winning touchdown with 45 seconds remaining. In Week 10 against Buffalo, Osborn converted a key fourth down on an end-around run. Last week against the Jets, Osborn darted up the field on the outside, then stopped on a dime to catch a pass for a big third-down conversion.

When he listens to these moments rattled off, he nods.

“I don’t know why,” he says, laughing, “but usually my opportunities come on fourth down or a couple of seconds left. That’s when I’ve been called on the most.”

Game-winning TDs is what @KJ_Osborn does.

🎙: @PAOnTheMic pic.twitter.com/QZ8njoHAJm

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 27, 2022

He tugs on one of his braids.

Has the transition to this role with the Vikings been easy?

“Has it been easy not catching a ton of passes? No. I can’t say that it has, especially with the expectations (after last season),” he says. “But I’m glad that we’re winning.”

How much did your past prepare you for this?

“In little league, I was the second-string running back and worked my way up. In high school, I wasn’t playing much, but then I worked my way up. In college, I redshirted, and then the next year, in one game against Western Michigan, an in-state team that didn’t recruit me, two senior slot receivers got hurt and I started and scored three touchdowns.”

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Wow.

“I got here, and punt returning didn’t go well. Then, the second year, people were, like, ‘Where did this guy come from?’ It’s much easier said than done. There are ups and downs and bad days. But all I know is work. How can I just work harder? Last week, I started going out to practice 20 or 30 minutes early. I know in due time the ball will find me, I’ll be able to make my plays and be the player I’m supposed to be.”

How excited are you for this weekend?

He mentions his grandfather, who lives close to the stadium in Detroit. He paints a picture of how he’ll stand on the field, look up at the crowd and smile seeing the faces of former coaches and folks from his hometown. How much joy he’ll have entering the huddle, listening to the play call and doing whatever his job requires of him, whether you see it in the final stat sheet or not.

(Top photo: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)

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