The Minnesota Vikings are facing some hardship leading into the 2024 NFL season. Tragedy and injuries have had a major impact on the outlook of the upcoming games the team will face during their schedule.
The good news is that all that hardship isn't all permanent. Some of the injured players will return to the team to contribute, hopefully making things a little easier for the Vikings this season considering their challenging opponents on the horizon.
Injured Vikings starter returns to practice ahead of Week 1 matchup vs. Giants
The Minnesota Vikings got some good news on Labor Day when wide receiver Jordan Addison practiced today. ESPN's Kevin Seifert shared the information on his official X account and a nugget about another Minnesota pass catcher.
With tight end T.J. Hockenson sidelined for at least the first four games, the Vikings could definitely use the services of Addison in Kevin O'Connell's offense with Sam Darnold at quarterback, Justin Jefferson at wide receiver, and Aaron Jones at running back.
Addison had a great rookie year in 2023, catching 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. He started 14 of his 17 games in his first year as a pro, earning a spot as a potential full-time starter during the 2024 season.
Addison's ankle being strong enough to practice is a great sign, but the team as well as fans should be a little concerned about the possibility of the NFL or the Vikings handing down some type of suspension for his legal issue this offseason.
The added comment on Seifert's post about wide receiver Jalen Nailor working on the side field is a little concerning since he is one of six wide receivers on Minnesota's 53-man roster. The hope is that Nailor isn't dealing with anything serious and can re-join the team soon.
Minnesota will need all healthy hands on deck for the upcoming season. With so many new faces on the roster, knowing what to expect from the team is extremely difficult since many contributors in key positions from last season are no longer on the Vikings' roster for the upcoming year.
For now, Minnesota Vikings fans should be excited that their WR2 has returned to practice. He should be an important part of the team's offensive attack and could have a huge impact on how the team fares during the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
