All Eyes to Turn to Status of Vikings Playmaker for Week 2
The Minnesota Vikings smashed the New York Giants on Sunday, tallying a 28-6 victory in New Jersey en route to the franchise’s first win by 17 or more points in five years.
All Eyes to Turn to Status of Vikings Playmaker for Week 2
All cylinders pumped for the Vikings as reclamation QB1 Sam Darnold hit stride at his old place of employment (MetLife Stadium), while Brian Flores’ maniac defense terrorized Giants quarterback Daniel Jones for three hours.
Along the way, however, wide receiver Jordan Addison encountered an ankle injury, knocking him out of the middle of the game and casting his status for Week 2 into doubt. For now, it’s a guessing game whether Addison will play against the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Sunday, “WR Jordan Addison will have more tests on his ankle injury tomorrow, but my understanding is he is not believed to have suffered a major injury. Good news for an offense that saw Sam Darnold look effortless — with his only INT coming on a deflected pass after being hit.”
In August, Addison was carted off Vikings practice with an ankle injury — the day rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was ruled out for the season due to a torn meniscus, and it felt like the Vikings’ season was crumbling before onlookers’ very eyes — but after the win over the Giants, head coach Kevin O’Connell claimed Addison’s other ankle took the brunt of Sunday’s injury. So, yes — Addison could be dealing with two iffy ankles.
Minnesota will need Addison in the lineup versus the 49ers, especially with Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson on the shelf. Hockenson can return Week 5 at the earliest, and in the meantime, Justin Jefferson, Addison, Jalen Nailor, tight ends Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and Nick Muse will serve as new quarterback Sam Darnold’s pass catchers.
The Vikings found Jordan Addison 16 months ago in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he quickly manufactured a memorable rookie season by showing instant credibility as a transferrable college-to-pro receiver in the league. Addison totaled 70 receptions, 911 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Two months ago, though, California Highway Patrol arrested Addison for suspicion of DUI, a matter he’s scheduled to address in court on October 7th. If convicted, he’ll likely face a suspension, probably in the neighborhood of three games.
Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, new running back Aaron Jones — a defector from the Green Bay Packers — carved up the Giants’ defense for 109 yards from scrimmage. If Jones continues that pace, perhaps Minnesota could live with no Addison this weekend, though it would be much more advantageous with him in the lineup.
Addison’s full injury prognosis will come into view later this week.
The 49ers are favored by 5.5 points to down the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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.
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