Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) catches a pass during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Jordan Addison looked like the latest great Minnesota Vikings wide receiver when he broke out as a rookie. The USC product stepped in for an injured Justin Jefferson and made his best impression. This season, however, he has been a disappearing act, and something needs to change.
After some recent controversy about his social media usage, Addison has turned his focus to the Indianapolis Colts. He has suggested that he’ll put on a show during Sunday Night Football, but if that’s the case, it will look much different than he has thus far this year.
Through the season’s first seven games, Addison has been hurt and largely unproductive. He hasn’t seen the same usage level when on the field, and the spots he has been given to make a mark have often gone unused. He has just 231 yards to his credit this season, and after finding the end zone ten times as a rookie, he has caught just a single score.
It is possible that new quarterback Sam Darnold doesn’t have a significant rapport with his second wideout. Some of the sour taste left from poor offseason decisions may have crept into a perceived future. It is also possible that the Vikings are simply leaving too much potential on the table.
Addison has shown that he can be a viable option on offense. He continues to generate significant separation, and the quarterback has sometimes failed to look in his direction. If he’s going to break out, then opportunity will be the first thing he needs to be afforded. Should the Vikings do a better job of including him in the gameplan on Sunday, then things could see a serious uptick.
Thus far, Addison has topped 50 yards in a game only twice this season. He has yet to reach triple-digits, and his only two-score game included a rushing touchdown. The Indianapolis Colts don’t have a lockdown defense, but they won’t just roll over, either. Jefferson will always draw the bulk of the focus from the opposition. That means there should be plenty of opportunity for Addison to operate in space.
Yes, the Vikings do get tight end T.J. Hockenson back. That means there’s at least one more mouth to feed. Addison looks like he wants to get full, though, and feeding him everything he can handle in primetime could pay dividends.
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 daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.