After a three-game suspension to start the season, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison made his season debut on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland. Speaking to the media before the team made the trip overseas, the third-year man made it clear where his mindset was.
"I'm ready."
Addison was able to practice with the team before his suspension ended, so he had some extra leeway to ramp up and be ready to play beyond a practice week that was not entirely normal, with the final session for the week taking place in Ireland. Still, it was worth wondering how much he'd play against the Steelers, with multiple factors playing into that.
An injury-depleted Vikings' offensive line struggled to protect Carson Wentz as the game went on, and Addison had three catches for 33 yards before the late game. Then, an 81-yard play, which would've been ideal for him to score on, as a comeback was being attempted, pushing him over 100 yards in his season debut.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison needed no ramp up in his 2025 season debut
Via an undetailed glance at the game that went on, it seemed Addison rarely left the field on Sunday. Indeed, according to Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus, he played 73 of the Vikings' 76 offensive snaps with 52 routes run (two fewer than Justin Jefferson) on his way to his four catches for 114 yards on eight targets.
Jalen Nailor aided the Vikings' comeback attempt by catching a touchdown and a two-point conversion in the game, as he settled into the No. 3 wide receiver role he'll have now that Addison is back in the fold (48 snaps and 32 routes run, per PFF).
Adam Thielen had two catches for 11 yards against the Steelers, doubling his catch total for the season, but he played just 12 offensive snaps. The Minnesota native's window to be a major factor in the Vikings' offense this season has basically closed now that Addison is back.
Addison's father Rolando rightfully trolled him on social media for getting caught by Steelers linebacker Peyton Wilson on the aforementioned 81-yard play. But otherwise, it was pretty much a normal day for the Vikings' No. 2 wide receiver as he stepped right back into that role without a hitch.