We’ve all heard this before – a player held out of offseason workouts due to a small tweak ends up dealing with a long-term significant injury. Jordan Addison, the Vikings’ recent 1st round pick, did not participate in any of the past month’s OTAs or mandatory minicamp due to an undisclosed injury.
Addison practiced for most of last month’s rookie minicamp practices, and he looked the part of a legitimate threat to pair alongside all-world receiver Justin Jefferson. He flashed his sharp route running, ability to separate, and contested catch skills during the no-pads practices. HC Kevin O’Connell even sent him a few passes. However, an apparent injury suddenly flared-up. O’Connell mentioned that it was a “day-to-day thing that we’re working though.” The result? No reps in the OTAs or minicamp that followed over the next month.
Vikings rookie mini-camp action: Kevin O’Connell with a strike to rookie WR Jordan Addison. pic.twitter.com/8UnfFUTTsP
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) May 12, 2023
The extent of the injury isn’t clear, and the Vikings don’t have to report the specifics yet. O’Connell mentioned that they are just being “overly cautious” with the young receiver, but fans of the franchise are very familiar with being told an unserious injury keeps a star out indefinitely. Infamously, Pro Bowl DE Danielle Hunter suffered what previous HC Mike Zimmer called “a small tweak” during the 2020 offseason. The coaching staff assured fans that it was nothing serious, but Hunter was destined for a season-long adventure to the Injured Reserve list for a herniated disc in his neck that required surgery. That was under the old Vikings regime, however, and the newer staff certainly handles business with a less “cloak-and-dagger” approach.
Addison does have a smaller frame, as he is under 6 feet and 175lbs. He missed three games with an ankle injury in his last college season at USC, but there is little to indicate that this is a recurring problem. His stature didn’t affect his overall college production. He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2021, compiling 93 receptions for 1,479 yards, and an FBS-leading 17 TDs at Pitt. While his numbers dipped slightly after transferring to Southern California last year, he was still a difference maker and consistently showed up with huge plays.
That’s a Jordan Addison touchdown and that’s Jerry Rice being super impressed 😎 pic.twitter.com/WW6RcPEqRb
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) September 11, 2022
Addison’s injury likely isn’t significant, and it isn’t time to hit the panic button yet. Past offseason injuries are surely on peoples’ minds, and alarms will go off if he isn’t taking part in Training Camp after the team’s six-week summer break. Until then, there are surely a lot of people holding their breath during this slow news cycle and hoping that this truly is an insignificant injury for a team looking to build on an impressive 13-win season.
