Aug 19, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the turf before the game against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
For most of Week 1 and all of Weeks 2 and 3, the Minnesota Vikings handled opposing defenses without Jordan Addison.
The second-year wideout injured his ankle during a Week 1 win over the New York Giants, about three weeks after hurting the other ankle in practice. Put plainly, Addison has encountered two bum ankles in the last six weeks.
But when he returned to action on Sunday at Lambeau Field, his inclusion in the offense proved the Vikings can be damn near unsolvable. Addison immediately thrived in Wisconsin — his second consecutive year of such activity — gashing the Packers’ reputable defense for 3 receptions, 72 yards, and a touchdown.
Without Addison in two games, Minnesota relied on Jalen Nailor, who performed wonderfully against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. But Nailor, although productive, is no Addison.
Opposing defenses must ponder Justin Jefferson all week leading into a matchup, and if the goal is to contain his heroism, well, Addison is available on the other side of the field to do damage. With Addison sidelined, Nailor doesn’t quite possess the game-changing threat as Addison.
The scheme played out in living color — again — at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Addison said about his touchdown to Star Tribune, “It was a little curl takeoff. We repped it in practice, and I had a good one. But it didn’t come to me in practice. The fact it came to me today, it worked out.”
WR Brandon Powell said about Addison in the lineup, “Who are you going to cover? Me and Trent [Sherfield] will go in and block, dog you out. We can also catch. But we got Jets, Jordan, and Speedy that’ll cook you on any route they run.”
This was the vision when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah scooped Addison from the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, the Vikings arguably needed a defensive player for the depth chart — probably a cornerback or defensive tackle — but Adofo-Mensah chose an abundance of riches on offense, a decision that is paying off to the tune of a 4-0 start in 2024.
Meanwhile, Minnesota will welcome tight end T.J. Hockenson back to the lineup in a few weeks after his recovery from a torn ACL is complete. On top of the Addison gravy on Sundays, Hockenson will open the middle of the field for quarterback Sam Darnold, and unthinkably, the Vikings offense can soar higher.
While the Vikings have adopted the “next man up” philosophy with ease in 2024, Addison’s thumbprint on the offense is undeniable. He makes Kevin O’Connell’s system Super Bowl caliber.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.