Vikings Taking It Easy with Jordan Addison at OTAs
Minnesota Vikings organized team activities (OTAs) are in full bloom at team headquarters in Eagan and will continue into June.
The next step is mandatory minicamp, kicking off June 13th.
Vikings Taking It Easy with Jordan Addison at OTAs
And for now, the club is taking it easy with Jordan Addison, the 23rd overall pick in last month’s draft. Minnesota selected Addison to add a formidable partner alongside reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson.
What’s the deal with Addison? Well, that’s a pseudo-mystery. It certainly doesn’t sound anything alarming, but Minnesota’s coaching staff was mum on the 21-year-old’s precise prognosis.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell replied when asked about Addison’s lack of involvement in drills, “Just something that popped up towards the tail end of rookie minicamp, nothing serious at all. As far as I’m concerned, it’s kind of a day-to-day thing that we’re just working through. This time of year, it’s better to be safe with things, knowing that training camp’s really not all that far away. To give him the best possible chance to impact our team like I think he will, that’s the plan we’re going with.”
Addison signed his rookie contract with the Vikings on May 17th and is now connected to the franchise through the end of 2026 — or 2027 if Minnesota sees fit with the fifth-year 1st-Rounder contractual option.
“We want to be sure when the time comes to activate him. He’s ready to roll. It’s better to be safe with training camp not that far away,” O’Connell added.
So, it assuredly doesn’t like a ‘big deal,’ but the man is tentatively on the shelf nevertheless.
O’Connell concluded about Addison’s role in the Vikings offense, “We’ve got big plans for him, obviously, but want to make sure mentally he’s in a great space and physically at his best when we allow him to truly go out there and turn it loose.”
Addison’s new running mate, Jefferson, is also on the shelf. But that’s likely for contract jostling. The phenom wideout is eligible for a contract extension, an agreement the Vikings are expected to complete in mere days or weeks. It will be mammoth.
When Addison is ready to go, he’ll showcase his skillset in front of teammates and coaches — and incumbent WR K.J. Osborn, who will also vie for the WR2 job this summer. On paper, Minnesota owns one of the most exciting offenses in the business despite losing Adam Thielen to the Carolina Panthers in March and possibly Dalvin Cook in June.
But, for now, it’s a mini-waiting game on Addison’s summer development.
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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