A Minnesota Vikings fan shows support from the stands during an NFL matchup against the Miami Dolphins. The scene was captured on Oct. 16, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Florida, where Vikings fans were well-represented despite the road environment. © BILL INGRAM / THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK.
The Minnesota Vikings arrived to Tuesday and were promptly socked with a double batch of adverse news.
The Vikings were affected by two separate pieces of tough news on the same day — both of which could impact the roster and rotation heading into preseason action.
The club begins the preseason on Saturday, hosting C.J. Stroud’s Houston Texans for an exhibition affair, and head coach Kevin O’Connell might even play some starters, unlike his usual tendency of resting them during the preseason.
And Minnesota must navigate two forms of bad news: Jordan Addison’s three-game suspension, along with offensive tackle Matt Nelson’s unfortunate injury.
The Discipline Is In for Jordan Addison, and an OT Is Hurt for the Long Haul
The sky isn’t falling, but Tuesday wasn’t great for the Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison hauls in a pass while being defended by Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon during second-half action. The play occurred on Nov. 3, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as Addison continued to showcase his dynamic playmaking ability. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
1. Jordan Addison Suspended Three Games
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote, ‘Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL season for violating the league’s substances of abuse policy, it was announced Tuesday.”
Addison, who has spent the past two seasons as the Vikings’ No. 2 receiver, will miss the opener at the Chicago Bears and then home games against the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals.”
The team and its fans expected that exact suspension for about a year, so Tuesday’s formality was not breaking news. It’s just that reality set in that Addison, a dynamic weapon, won’t be available for the start of the J.J. McCarthy era.
Seifert added, “Addison, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2023, was charged in July 2024 with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with at least a .08% blood alcohol concentration after a West Los Angeles police officer found him asleep at the wheel of a white Rolls-Royce that was blocking a lane of I-105 westbound near Los Angeles International Airport.”
The incident occurred nearly a year after Addison was cited for driving 140 mph on a Minnesota freeway in July 2023. He subsequently agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor speeding charge, with a charge of reckless driving dismissed. He paid $686 in fines. In two seasons with the Vikings, Addison has started 29 games, totaling 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns. The top candidate to replace him in the Vikings’ starting lineup is fourth-year receiver Jalen Nailor, who started seven games in 2024.”
What Now for the Vikings’ WRs?
With Addison on the shelf — he is not expected to appeal — Nailor, mentioned by Seifert, will get the nod as WR2 for three games. In addition to him, Minnesota will presumably floss a healthy workload of T.J. Hockenson, the team’s primary tight end.
Jordan Addison stands on the field before kickoff during a road game against the Atlanta Falcons. The image was taken on Nov. 5, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, where Minnesota prepared for an important NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.
Thereafter, the mystery looms. Players like Rondale Moore, rookie Tai Felton, or upstart training camper Lucky Jackson could make a dent in the offense. Those roles, though, are undetermined before anyone sees any preseason action.
2. OT Matt Nelson Tears Biceps
KSTP’s Darren Wolfson also tweeted Tuesday, “Unfortunate news for Vikings OL Matt Nelson after he just signed last week: Told he suffered a biceps tear last night.”
Minnesota had signed Nelson for offensive tackle depth five days ago, and his 53-man roster prognosis was unclear. He could’ve made the active roster, been cut, or hit the practice squad. Now, he faces a long recovery, with a best-case scenario of being ready late in the regular season — if he were to make the team at all.
New York Giants offensive tackle N. Nelson participates in blocking drills during a summer training camp session. The moment was captured on Jul. 26, 2024, at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the Giants prepared for preseason action. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports.
Our own Janik Eckardt detailed Nelson’s bio: “Nelson, a 29-year-old from Grand Rapids, Iowa, attended the University of Iowa. In 2019, he went undrafted but signed with the Detroit Lions, where he played for five seasons. Last year, the New York Giants added him in March, but he was released before the season opener against the Vikings and didn’t play a game that season.”
“With the Lions, Nelson has competed in 43 contests (14 starts), primarily as a backup lineman. Overall, Nelson logged 1,071 offensive snaps and another 187 on special teams. Most of those offensive reps took place at left tackle or as a sixth offensive lineman, a role Dan Skipper has had in the last few years.”
Diminished OT Depth
Sans Nelson, Minnesota will trust free-agent addition Justin Skule, signed by the franchise in March as a Christian Darrisaw insurance policy and overall depth, along with second-year tackle Walter Rouse and undrafted free agent Logan Brown.
Detroit Lions offensive linemen M. Nelson and Beau Benzschawel go through a positional drill during a summer practice. The session took place on Jul. 25, 2019, at the Detroit Lions Training Facility in Detroit, Michigan, as players competed for roster spots. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.
Nelson’s upcoming injured reserve trip might make a roster spot for Brown more likely, and Skule is virtually guaranteed a job.
Nelson is a 6’7″ Iowa native who played college with the aforementioned Hockenson at the University of Iowa. He’ll turn 30 in December.
