Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images.
On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings will look to knock off the San Francisco 49ers for the second season in a row. Doing so would announce their arrival as a legitimate threat in the NFC this season. A strong start against the New York Giants wasn’t unexpected, but Kyle Shanahan’s team is a different beast entirely. They will need to do it without Jordan Addison.
Jordan Addison came into Week 1 with an ankle issue stemming from a joint practice against the Cleveland Browns. Ultimately he avoided the final injury list and was able to play through the problem. He suffered another ankle injury, though, to the opposite foot and left the game with just three catches.
Yet to practice this week, Addison will be inactive for Minnesota on Sunday. That means Sam Darnold is down a weapon and will need to rely on a new wide receiver. Similar to how Addison broke out against San Francisco last year, Jalen Nailor will be able to do the same.
Justin Jefferson was not available for the Vikings in 2023 when they played the 49ers and Addison stepped up with over 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The superstar is good to go this time, but he’ll need someone to draw coverage and allow him opportunities to be open. Nailor can provide that spark and has long been the talk of the organization.
Health has escaped Nailor to this point in his career, but he comes into Week 2 ready to roll. Nailor generated some strong rapport with Darnold during the preseason, and the pairing connected for a 21-yard touchdown against the Giants in Week 1. With Addison out of the picture, there should be plenty of targets.
Aaron Jones will again look to establish a strong presence for the running game, but Minnesota will need to be competent through the air. The better that Sam Darnold continues to look for the Vikings, the more likely they have a chance to compete as the season goes on. A win in this matchup would certainly cement any belief that the season isn’t just a throwaway year as the team waits for the return of J.J. McCarthy.
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.