Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison created headlines over a post on his Instagram account over the weekend but there appears to be no harm after he cleared the air while talking to reporters on Monday.
Addison posted a picture of himself with the caption “Free 3” on his Instagram story on Saturday, and many thought it meant he wanted more targets or a trade out of Minnesota. But according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert on Monday, Addison’s post was referring to a phrase that he’s used since high school and had nothing to do with his role in the Vikings offense.
In addition to also telling Seifert, “I’m straight,” Addison added another post to his Instagram story on Monday that pointed out when he used the slogan during his days at Pittsburgh with the caption “Do ya homework.”
Jordan Addison post brings up bad memories for Minnesota Vikings fans
Addison may be fine with his role in the offense, but there is some validation if he’s upset with his targets. Coming off a rookie year where he caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, Addison has just 14 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown in his second season with the Vikings.
While part of his issues dealt with a pair of ankle injuries suffered in training camp and the season-opening win over the New York Giants, Addison also has just three more targets (23) than Johnny Mundt (20), who is averaging just 6.6 yards a reception this season.
But more than production may be the scars of Vikings fans when it comes to cryptic posts on social media. Stefon Diggs essentially tweeted his way out of Minnesota in 2020 and out of Buffalo this past offseason when he wasn’t happy with his role on the team, and the instant reaction for many is to refer to players as “divas” when posts like the one Addison made show up on their timeline.
There’s also an issue of timing. The Vikings have dropped two straight games and scored just six points after getting touchdowns on their first two drives in a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Thursday.
With Christian Darrisaw suffering a season-ending injury in the loss, it would be fitting if players were starting to get angry and the team fell apart after a fast start like they did in 2003 (6-0 before missing playoffs) and 2016 (5-0 before missing playoffs).
This is also coming from a player who was cited for speeding in July 2023 and then arrested for DUI shortly before training camp this past summer.
Those events are things to consider if Addison’s post, which has no hard feelings now, may create some when the Vikings head into the offseason.