With Jordan Addison’s availability uncertain, Vikings need Jalen Nailor more than ever

EAGAN, Minn. — Jordan Addison introduced himself to the NFL world against the San Francisco 49ers. It happened last October in a game most expected the Minnesota Vikings to lose. The 2-4 Vikings were without superstar wideout Justin Jefferson. The 49ers were 5-1. But that night, a “Monday Night Football” matchup underneath the lights inside U.S. Bank Stadium, Addison stole the show.

He hauled in a bubble screen and darted his way forward for extra yards early in the matchup. He sliced between the hashes and snagged an over-the-middle pass on an in-cut. He executed a crossing route perfectly and caught a touchdown over two defenders. And then, memorably, with seconds remaining until halftime, Addison streaked down the middle of the field, responded to a pass thrown a bit behind him by ripping the ball from the hands of 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward and jogged 60 yards into the end zone.

.@espn_jordan. TO. THE. HOUSE.

📺: @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/MXcbsXdSoL

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 24, 2023

The frenzied crowd, clad in purple, reacted about how you’d think. The stadium vibrated. In the end, the Vikings won 22-17. Addison had made seven catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

“That’s what they brought me here for,” the 2023 first-round pick said that night in the Vikings’ locker room. “I’ve been playing this game for a while. I know how to take hits in certain ways. I don’t play this game with any fear.”

Addison’s performance inspired hope: How good could this offense be when Jefferson returns and you pair both receivers with an experienced quarterback?

We never got an answer to that question, though. By the time Jefferson and Addison were on the field together from Weeks 14-18, Kirk Cousins had already torn his Achilles and the Vikings were playing a brutal weekly game of Quarterback Pick’em.

That’s why Sunday’s opener against the New York Giants was so interesting. It was the first chance to see these two wideouts, at their fullest form, alongside a more capable quarterback in Sam Darnold. They dominated for the better part of a half, albeit against a putrid-looking Giants defense. When Jefferson and Addison were on the field together, Darnold completed 13 of 14 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown.

Unfortunately, their time together was fleeting. Addison suffered an ankle injury on the Vikings’ second play of the second quarter and did not return. Minnesota designed a screen for Addison in the flat. He caught the pass and tried to wiggle his way behind his blockers until Giants linebacker Darius Muasau dragged him down from behind. Addison’s ankle collapsed underneath the tackler. He was ushered into the blue medical tent and then walked to the locker room with trainers.

On Monday, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Addison had “pretty significant soreness.”

“Still hopeful Jordan will have a chance (to play in Sunday’s game against the 49ers),” O’Connell said. “But we’ll be smart with him knowing it’s a long season and how important he is to our offense.”

Addison’s absence might affect the Vikings offense more than Jefferson’s did last year against the 49ers because Minnesota is already without T.J. Hockenson. The tight end is a proven separator, demanding defensive attention, which prevented San Francisco from allocating all of its resources to Addison.

All opposing defenses magnetically float toward Jefferson, regardless of who is on the field with him, dictating one-on-one opportunities for teammates. Having players who can win in those instances is partially why the Vikings traded for Hockenson and drafted Addison. It’s also why Sunday might serve as an inflection point for third-year receiver Jalen Nailor.

“Jordan, at the very (best), will be limited,” O’Connell said. “I know he’ll be ready to go if we can get him out there. But I’m going to tell (Nailor) to prepare as if he’s going to be playing a lot more snaps and a lot more … early down snaps. Because that’s why he’s here.”

Before Sunday’s game against the Giants, the Vikings staff felt good about Nailor’s role. He, too, had been navigating an ankle injury, so Minnesota didn’t want to overwork him. The staff envisioned him occupying the No. 3 receiver spot on obvious passing downs, and his snap count reflected that plan. Nailor played one snap on early downs in the first and second quarters and three snaps on third down. In other words, the Vikings thought he’d impact the game mostly as a separator in pass situations — not as a run blocker.

Darnold only targeted Nailor once. In the third quarter, following a bespoke Jefferson motion and play call, Nailor was allowed to leak up the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown catch. It was the second of his career but his first since 2022, his rookie season.

Came out swinging in the 2nd half.@jalennailor

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/W1Rznq8oEj

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 8, 2024

His nickname is “Speedy,” but what has always intrigued O’Connell, wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell and teammates is the pace at which Nailor runs routes. Straight-line speed does not always translate to route running. But Nailor’s did, they felt. It was just a matter of him staying healthy enough to show it.

But he couldn’t. Nailor constantly wowed Vikings personnel in OTAs and training camp, then injured his leg. Hamstring and groin pain slowed his progress. A concussion kept him out of the final four weeks last season.

Rather than acquiring an external wide receiver, the Vikings doubled down on Nailor this offseason, pairing him with receivers more adept at run blocking in Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield Sr. Nailor validated their hope in training camp. He stayed healthy and dominated. An ankle injury slowed his Week 1 activity, but now the Vikings cannot afford further setbacks.

Really for the first time on Sunday against the 49ers, the Vikings might need Nailor. The Vikings don’t have Hockenson to help out Jefferson. Nor do they have another productive pass catcher like K.J. Osborn who left in free agency last spring. Knowing this, the 49ers will challenge the Minnesota offensive line and running back Aaron Jones. They will 100 percent double-team Jefferson.

That leaves Nailor. The Michigan State product is unlike Addison in that he was not similarly heralded, but he is like Addison in that he has an opportunity against San Francisco. It’s a chance to introduce himself to the NFL world and play a critical role in helping the Vikings win a game most expect them to lose.