The NFL announced on Tuesday that Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season for violating the league’s substance usage policy. While the suspension will mostly affect Addison, it may also have an impact on Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Jordan Addison avoided going to trial by pleading no contest to a reduced charge last month. This came after he had initially faced two misdemeanor DUI charges from his July 12, 2024 arrest, when a California Highway Patrol officer found him asleep in a car that was obstructing a lane near the Los Angeles International Airport.
He’ll be allowed to participate in practices and preseason games, but his suspension will begin when the regular season starts, sidelining him for the first three matchups against the Bears, Falcons, and Bengals.
Drafted 23rd overall in 2023, Addison has quickly become a key weapon in Minnesota’s offense, racking up 1,786 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns over his first two seasons while forming a dynamic pairing with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson. However, his off-field behavior has raised concerns. Just a week before his rookie training camp, he was arrested for excessive speeding, and the DUI arrest last offseason added to a pattern of risky decisions. When he reported to camp last year, Addison expressed regret and thanked the Vikings for standing by him, admitting he had been in a “dark place” after the incident.
With Addison suspended for the season’s opening stretch, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will likely rely more on depth options like Jalen Nailor, first-year receiver Tai Felton, and newly acquired Rondale Moore if Moore is fully recovered from his ACL injury. Tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, along with veteran running back Aaron Jones, are also expected to play bigger roles in easing the pressure on Jefferson.
Addison, who began his college career at Pittsburgh before transferring to USC, tied Odell Beckham Jr. for the fourth-most touchdown catches in NFL history by a player under 23. Only Randy Moss (28), Rob Gronkowski (27), and Ja’Marr Chase (22) had more.