Does the Jordan Addison Show Now Begin?
The Minnesota Vikings own one of the worst records in the NFL. They just lost star wide receiver Justin Jefferson for no less than four games. Things have gone downhill fast, and while the win tally becomes less relevant, it may be time to kick off the Jordan Addison show.
Does the Jordan Addison Show Now Begin?
When looking at the 2023 NFL Draft, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had a handful of routes he could go. The Vikings desperately needed help at multiple defensive spots, and there were needs sprinkled in on offense as well. The draft board falling as it did had USC wide receiver Jordan Addison being Minnesota’s pick, and he has gotten off to a decent start. With Jefferson now out, it’s time to take it up a notch.
Through five games this season, Addison has drawn two starts for Minnesota. Originally listed behind K.J. Osborn on the depth chart, Addison has the ability to work around the defense and take pressure off of Jefferson. With Kirk Cousins looking for opportunities with his playmakers, Addison’s inclusion on offense has helped.
Last season, the Vikings needed more receiving threats, with Adam Thielen on the downside of his career. They acquired T.J. Hockenson from the Detroit Lions and continued to add in drafting Addison. Thus far, the rookie wideout has compiled 249 yards and a trio of touchdowns.
With a 13.1 yards per reception average, Addison has shown he has an ability to stretch the field. His routes have been relatively crisp, and his hands have also been solid. Now, moving into a focal point of the weekly gameplan, putting a cap on his production doesn’t seem wise.
Jefferson vacates his spot in the offense while owning the third most receiving yards in the NFL. He had found the end zone of late as well, and Cousins has always looked at the superstar as a first read. Addison isn’t simply going to morph into the same player or talent, but the opportunity gives him a chance to shine.
Over the years, we have seen Osborn look to establish himself as a legitimate option in the Vikings offense. He certainly has never taken the position and run with it, and Addison doing so would be a much-welcomed development. Having topped out with a season-high 72 yards during Week 2, Addison should be looking to rack up as many games over the century mark as he can during this stretch.
It doesn’t seem likely that the Vikings would just pack it in and look to shut down their season, so someone like Addison establishing themselves and showing an upward trend for the future would be a welcomed reality. At some point in the not-so-distant future, this Minnesota team won’t be quarterbacked by Cousins, and having significant threats to find the heir is something the organization desperately desires.
Week 5 gives Addison a nice opportunity against a bad Bears team, and seeing if he can run with it will be the storyline for Sunday.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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