The Vikings’ WR2 Survives Injury Scare

The Vikings’ WR2 — Mr. Jordan Addison — boasts terrific talent. Even the best, though, can’t contribute from the sideline.

Thankfully, the thumb injury doesn’t appear too serious. So says Kevin O’Connell, an eternal optimist who does a nice job of trying to be transparent with injury updates: “All imaging and everything came back clean. It’s just a little sore and we want to be able to let him put this thing behind him in the next day or two, but nothing to be concerned about.”

The Vikings’ WR2 Shouldn’t Be Out Long

Chosen at No. 23 in the 2023 NFL Draft, Mr. Addison has proven to be among the better NFL receivers. Few, if any, could debate that he’s a fantastic option. How good is he, though?

An average season for Addison involves 65 catches for 885 yards and 8 touchdowns (tip of the cap to PFR). No doubt, there’s promise contained within those numbers, but he hasn’t rewritten records like Justin Jefferson has. Somebody could pretty easily pile up ten or fifteen names of receivers who are better. Not more talented, but better.

Still, there’s ample potential here, in no small part due to being just 24.

Addison doesn’t boast a formidable frame but he can shake a corner out of his cleats. Doing so allows him to score more than his WR1 counterpart. There’s a sense, as well, that the young fella could figure it out sooner rather than later due to no off-field issues alongside greater stability at quarterback.

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The Vikings lean on Addison to shuffle all over the place. He can win outside and from within the slot. So, too, can he be leaned on to be explosive as a runner on jet sweeps. The Vikings can target him at all three levels of the field. In particular, there’s upside in the kill shot, the deep passes that instantly put 6 points on the board.

If completely healthy for seventeen games, Jordan Addison should clear 1,000 yards. He’s talented enough to clear the benchmark yardage total on an annual basis. Something within the range of 80 catches, 1,000 yards, and 10 touchdowns wouldn’t be at all surprising.

Recently, there has been some discussion of an extension for the pass catcher. The receiver business is booming business, so cashing in does have its appeal. The issue for Addison is that he’s coming off his most modest season and working under a new GM in Nolan Teasley. Is the front office willing to pay top dollar for the young fella who doesn’t lack for talent?

Another consideration is that the Vikings already have him under contract for two more seasons. Minnesota sees the fourth season of his rookie contract on the books and then the 5th-year option. Afterwards, the team could opt for the franchise tag, meaning the Vikings boast a ton of leverage.

Jordan Addison stands at 5’11” and weighs close to 180 pounds.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.