The Jordan Addison Situation Just Got More Real for the Vikings
For better or worse, the Jordan Addison saga is nearing a breaking point.
Jordan Addison’s legal ordeal may soon affect the Vikings. Here’s what it could mean for the offense — and what might happen if he’s forced to miss games.
The electric Minnesota Vikings wide receiver began a DUI trial this week, stemming from an alleged infraction in California one year ago. Believe it not — it seems pretty rare, especially for a celebrity — Addison’s DUI went all the way to a trial setting.
Here’s what it could mean for Addison and the Vikings in 2025.
Crescendo for Jordan Addison Nears
The 23-year-old pass-catcher is in the spotlight once again.
A Jordan Addison Suspension Feels Closer Than Ever
No stranger to driving shenanigans, Addison’s legal boiling point arrived this week. California authorities popped Addison last July — just days after his teammate Khyree Jackson passed away in a tragic car accident that might have involved a drunk driver — and his saga has persisted for a year.
If Addison is found guilty in any way of the offence, he’ll likely be suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell for three games, probably to start the 2025 season. That’s the minimum standard for DUI infractions.
It’s also worth noting that a DUI going to trial seems a little weird, all things considered. Perhaps new information from Addison’s camp will come to light in the next week.
PFT on Addison
Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio mentioned Addison on Tuesday, “A week before he’s due to report to the Vikings for training camp, receiver Jordan Addison will be in L.A. for non-football reasons. As noted by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, Addison’s DUI trial remains on track to begin today, July 15.”
“That date was set in the middle of June. Last July, Addison was found asleep at the wheel at LAX airport. He’s accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, and of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration in excess of the legal limit of .08 percent. Both charges are misdemeanors.”
Most fans have expected a suspension since the turmoil bubbled to the surface a year ago, so the impending judgment might feel more like finality.
Florio continued, “The related complication comes from the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Baseline punishment for first offense DUI is a three-game suspension.”
“And the suspension is in play even if there’s any outcome reflecting responsibility — conviction, guilty plea, no contest, diversion program, deferred prosecution, etc.”
T.J. Hockenson as De Facto WR3
Tight end T.J. Hockenson missed about half the 2024 season recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in December 2023. When he returned, he played decently, but he didn’t quite pack the punch of typical Hockenson. The veteran pass-catcher has since fully recovered and will have a full offseason, training camp, and preseason under his belt.
When hitting on all cylinders, with Kirk Cousins at quarterback in 2022 and 2023, for example, Hockenson commands a WR3 target load in the Vikings’ offense. With Addison possibly on the shelf for three games, Hockenson would retake his quasi-WR3 role in September.
He’s the most obvious contingency plan. Book it.
The Tai Felton Angle
Don’t forget about the rookie. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Maryland’s Tai Felton in April, a 3rd-Round selection that turned heads because most fans didn’t perceive WR as a roster need.
Spending a 3rd-Rounder on a wide receiver suggested an impactful long-term plan for Felton, a speedster, and his introduction to the NFL could be front and center in September if Addison misses three games.
Minnesota would roll out some combination of Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Jalen Nailor, and Tai Felton in Week 1, a passable stable for the first three games of quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s career.
Janik Eckardt on Hockenson as the Top Alternative
Our own Janik Eckardt also nominated Hockenson as “the guy” if Addison misses the season’s first three games.
He wrote earlier this month, “Think back to the 2023 campaign when Jefferson sustained his hamstring injury. Rookie Addison was suddenly the top receiver, and K.J. Osborn was the next man in line. Quarterback Josh Dobbs heavily relied on the star tight end, who single-handedly carved up the Saints’ defense in the first half despite suffering from a painful rib injury.”
“The pass-catcher has proven to be a difference-maker on the field, as he is one of the few tight ends that teams can run a passing attack with as the primary receiver. When opponents focus on Jefferson, he can punish those holes.”
Hockenson will experience his full first training camp and preseason since the summer of 2023.
Eckardt added, “As a blocker, he is certainly not an elite player, but he is still helpful in that regard. He didn’t look fully healthy last season, but a year removed from his return and with a full offseason in his bag, he should be back at 100%. If Addison is out, expect Hockenson to be a frequent target for quarterback J.J. McCarthy.”
“The young passer also fed tight end Colston Loveland at Michigan, and his middle-of-the-field throws have drawn praise. Hockenson just turned 28.”
An Addison resolution should be determined by the time Minnesota kicks off the preseason on August 9th, or at the very least, have strong indicators by then.
The Vikings play the Texans that day at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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