For the Minnesota Vikings, wide receiver depth has taken some hits recently. Jordan Addison will serve a three-game suspension to start the 2025 campaign, and Rondale Moore will miss the entire season due to a knee injury in the preseason opener.
Add in a new injury concern with No. 3 wide receiver Jalen Nailor (hand), and suddenly it's Justin Jefferson and a bunch of question marks while Addison isn't available. It's also not an ideal situation for J.J. McCarthy to start his first season as the starting quarterback.
Any notable wide receiver who remains available or becomes available is easy to suggest as a potential addition for the Vikings. One available option that looks to be a nice fit was apparently in attendance at U.S. Bank Stadium for the second preseason game against the New England Patriots this past Saturday.
If the Vikings add a veteran wide receiver, and that is somewhat of an 'if' even though it's fair to say they should, it may come after roster cuts next week when more options become available. It's also fair to say that anyone who has designs on a notable season-long role in an offense (Amari Cooper) will not prefer to come to Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings can patiently wait for their most ideal WR reunion
The "Purple FTW! Podcast" account on X recently honed in on an "obvious" choice the Vikings could add to their wide receiver room.
IF the Vikings add in the WR room, KJ Osborn is the obvious choice.
— Purple FTW! Podcast (@PurpleForTheWin) August 18, 2025
1. Need someone to contribute IMMEDIATELY during Addison suspension.
2. Reliable hands, don't disturb the team culture.
-Osborn put up 108-1190-8 over 2 seasons in the KOC offense.
-Still tight with… pic.twitter.com/MBqTeRMabU
Osborn was a fifth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020. After a rookie season where he literally played zero offensive snaps, he became the No. 3 wide receiver in 2021 and had 50 receptions for 655 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 2022, Kevin O'Connell's first season as head coach, Osborn had a career-high 60 catches along with 650 yards and five touchdowns. In 2023, he had 48 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns.
Osborn signed with the Patriots in 2024 free agency, but he did not last the season there before they waived him, and the Washington Commanders claimed him.
Over eight total games last season, Osborn had seven receptions for 57 yards.
Washington has a deep wide receiver depth chart heading into the final week of the preseason. Terry McLaurin has asked for a trade, but it's most likely that they'll get a contract extension done with him.
Deebo Samuel was a notable offseason addition. Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, and rookie Jaylin Lane feel like locks to make the 53-man roster. So Osborn is in competition with Michael Gallup, Michael Strachan, etc. to be the sixth wide receiver to make the roster, if six are kept.
A late wide receiver addition for the Vikings will ideally have familiarity with their offense and some past production in it. Osborn checks those boxes more than just about anyone, if he ends up being available. And most importantly, for when Addison is back, he has proven he can be an ideal WR3.