Jordan Addison suspended: Who's the next man up?
How will the Vikings approach the first three game? Are there any receivers in camp showing they belong?
By Matthew Coller
EAGAN — For about a year, we have wondered when news about a Jordan Addison suspension would be announced. On Tuesday afternoon, the NFL released a statement that Addison will be suspended for the first three games of 2025 for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy. Earlier this month, Addison pleaded no contest to a DUI citation that took place last summer.
While Addison can still appeal the suspension and has a chance to reduce the penalty because he hasn’t had any further issues and his agent said that he worked with Mothers Against Done Driving following his citation, the Vikings must prepare to be without their No. 2 receiver, who has 133 receptions for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns over the last two seasons.
What’s the plan?
Well, that question leads us to a lot of other questions, starting with how they feel about Lucky Jackson. Over the last two years, Jackson has put together strong training camps and stayed on the practice squad following a long journey to the NFL that included a spring league and the XFL. During Justin Jefferson’s absence due to a hamstring injury, Jackson has received more first-team reps than any other receiver by a country mile. He has made a number of catches and looked the part but it’s possible that he’s getting those reps because he’s the most experienced receiver in the offense and Kevin O’Connell prefers his knowledge of the offense for JJ McCarthy as he’s trying to learn the system.
Because so much of the defense’s attention is shifted toward Jefferson, the Vikings might only need a receiver who can be at the right place at the right time in order to fit into the WR3 role. Last season WR3 Jalen Nailor only saw 42 total targets but gained nearly 15 yards per reception. Jackson wouldn’t have to be a super hero, just nail his assignments and make the occasional play.
If the Vikings want a little different dynamic, Rondale Moore could be the best option. He has been working toward becoming a complete receiver in the Vikings offense but he was an effective quick-game option for the Arizona Cardinals for three seasons, racking up 135 catches for 1,201 yards from 2021-2023. Moore appears to still be getting comfortable with the system because he missed OTAs and minicamp but he has more NFL receptions than anyone else on the roster except Jefferson, which could make him the natural choice when he’s ready.
The Vikings surprised some by picking receiver Tai Felton in the third round of the NFL Draft. He ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has shown every bit of his speed early in camp. He’s also shown that he will need to develop in order to become a complete wide receiver. The team presumably saw him as a player with high upside who could contribute immediately on special teams and grow into a Jalen Nailor-like role eventually. It would be a difficult task to have him take over the WR3 spot right now. However, there is still a long way to go in camp. Felton will have preseason games and joint practices to prove that he’s ready to get in the game while Addison is out.
As far as the rest of the roster, Jeshaun Jones and Thayer Thomas have occasionally flashed but haven’t been in practice for consistent first or second-team reps. UDFAs Myles Price and Silas Bolden have rarely seen the field outside of the return game.
It is very likely that the Vikings will lean more heavily on Josh Oliver and shift TJ Hockenson to playing more in the slot and out wide. Per PFF, Hockenson has already played off the line of scrimmage often. He lined up either in the slot or outside on 44% of his snaps last season and 50.3% in 2023.
O’Connell is no stranger to using two tight ends. The Vikings were 11th in percentage of snaps in 12 personnel (two TEs) in 2023 when Hockenson was healthy and 14th last year despite the Pro Bowler missing half the season per SumerSports.
Oliver has also shown that he is more than just a blocking tight end. Over the last two years, he has been targeted 52 times and caught 44 passes with one drop. Last season Sam Darnold had a 146.5 QB rating when targeting the enormous tight end.
If they play more big personnel, which could also include CJ Ham, then it could create mismatches in terms of personnel and they may be able to lean on the run game more heavily. With the construction of the offensive line and addition of Jordan Mason, the Vikings are much more fit to win on the ground than they have been at any other time during O’Connell’s tenure.
None of the options seem like a perfect fit. Asking Hockenson to be a wide receiver all the time isn’t ideal. Running mor in an offense that has Jefferson isn’t ideal. Felton is the player who can most easily emulate Nailor’s role (as Nailor bumps to WR2) in terms of his physical makeup but Jackson is the most like Nailor in terms of his understanding of the offense. Moore is completely unique and would require a different gameplan for his skillset alone.
Is the best option to use a little bit of everything? Make the pieces fit.
The good news is that the Vikings have a few weeks remaining before the season to find out how all the pieces connect. They can decide which options work better around JJ McCarthy.
They can also decide whether something else needs to be done. Vikings fans are already clamoring for an Adam Thielen return if the Panthers are willing to trade him. There are a handful of free agent receivers who have succeeded in the NFL before, including Amari Cooper. There will be some options on cutdown day.
Are those options a particularly big upgrade over just shuffling in Jackson, Moore and Felton and using Josh Oliver more often? Maybe. The coaches and front office will have to make that assessment as they go forward in camp.
At very least, the Vikings and Addison have their answer. Now they can move ahead with the plans for Weeks 1-3.
I don’t think they need to bring anybody in at this point. If KOC can’t put together a successful offense for three weeks with Jefferson, Hockenson, and an improved running game, then he isn’t the offensive genius we think he is. Nobody they bring in is going to be a huge improvement on short notice. Run the ball a bit more, go 2 TEs a little more, let Nailor catch a few balls, let the defense do its thing, and they should be fine.
Why doesn't a heavier use of Nailor fit into your plans for the scheme, Matthew?