End the Jordan Addison Drought
The Minnesota Vikings have a winless drought spanning two games after back-to-back losses at the Denver Broncos and home against the Chicago Bears.
Operations were trending positively until the Denver matchup, as the Vikings had won five games in a row, oddly aligned with the moment Justin Jefferson hurt his hamstring.
End the Jordan Addison Drought
And in addition to perhaps ending the winless drought at the Las Vegas Raiders in nine days, the Vikings must conclude a different bad patch — Jordan Addison’s touchdownless streak.
Addison took the NFL by storm in the first eight games of 2023, slicing and dicing defenses of all calibers to the tune of 7 touchdowns. He cooked while Jefferson was in the lineup and stepped up mightily when the Offensive Player of the Year hit injured reserve.
But then the scoring stopped.
In fact, the last time Addison found the endzone was about 45 minutes before Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon at Lambeau Field. Since then, the Vikings have trotted out Jaren Hall — for a few minutes — at quarterback and Joshua Dobbs, who was acquired via trade on Halloween.
For some reason, Hall and Dobbs — Dobbs, mainly — have not connected with Addison for points. Minnesota “got away with it” against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints in Weeks 9 and 10, but thereafter, the losing commenced, and some have wondered why Addison isn’t targeted more frequently, in and out of the redzone.
Coincidentally, the Vikings have a quarterback controversy [or debate] heading into Week 14. Dobbs began his Vikings career as an interstellar being but has returned to orbit like a busted satellite. While Dobbs could start against the Raiders, the aforementioned Hall or veteran Nick Mullens could get the nod.
Whoever is tabbed for QB1 duty will also receive Jefferson back in the lineup. The phenom playmaker’s stint on injured reserve is over, and Jefferson will hit the field in Las Vegas for the first time since October.
To be clear, Addison hasn’t struggled without Cousins at QB1. He’s just not producing like Weeks 1 through 8. During that timeframe, Addison garnered Top 5 Offensive Rookie of the Year attention, an award that has now been all but won by Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Minnesota drafted Addison to take pressure off the offense when Jefferson was tamed by defenses or, in 2023’s case, to thrive when Jefferson fell injured. Addison was humming along just fine before Cousins was lost for the year.
It’s time to nominate the quarterback for starter’s duty who can best feed Jefferson and Addison.
End the Addison drought.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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