Top Vikings Playmaker Faces Possible Suspension to Begin Season

The Minnesota Vikings face plenty of question marks surrounding quarterback J.J. McCarthy heading into the 2025 regular season, though there are some considerable unknowns around him as well.

Among the greatest uncertainties is what will happen with third-year wide receiver Jordan Addison and his off-field legal issues, which will play out in court just ahead of training camp next month.

“Addison has a July 15 trial as a byproduct of a DUI citation last summer. He could face a three-game suspension,” Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported on Monday, June 23. “This won’t catch the Vikings off guard. They’ve known this could be a possibility, and it places further emphasis on their need to run the football effectively. Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson will serve as the primary targets, while Jalen Nailor’s role will increase. Rookie receiver Tai Felton could also see significant time during this span.”

Jordan Addison Has Produced 2 Quality Years in NFL Since Joining Vikings

Addison has been the clear No. 2 in the Vikings’ receiver room behind Jefferson since joining the team as a first-round pick ahead of the 2023 campaign.

The 23-year-old has tallied 133 receptions for 1,786 receiving yards and 19 TDs across 32 games played (29 games started) over his first two NFL seasons.

Minnesota faces the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field to open the season before hosting the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals at home in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively. And while that is not necessarily a murderer’s row sort of lineup, all three opponents are capable of contending for the playoffs in 2025. As such, should the league suspend Addison for three contests, his contributions are likely to be missed.

Jordan Addison’s Potential Absence Could Be Overshadowed if J.J. McCarthy Struggles

The only way Addison’s absence won’t be overtly noticeable, assuming he ends up suspended for any length of time, is if McCarthy struggles enough that it doesn’t matter who is running routes outside of Jefferson and Hockenson.

McCarthy missed the entirety of his rookie campaign due to a knee injury he suffered during a preseason game in August 2024. That issue required two surgeries to repair and resulted in McCarthy losing significant weight while watching Sam Darnold lead the team to a 14-3 record and a berth in the playoffs.

Darnold left for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, leaving McCarthy as the presumed starter heading into the year. He struggled early in spring work, throwing multiple interceptions across three consecutive days. However, the team reported optimism on McCarthy’s progression by the time mandatory minicamp ended earlier this month.

The Vikings will return to the field in mid-July for training camp and get into preseason game action in August. Behind McCarthy on the depth chart is Sam Howell, whom Minnesota traded for with the Seahawks in April. The No. 3 quarterback entering the season is Brett Rypien.

Should McCarthy and/or Howell struggle mightily, the Vikings may decide to bring in a veteran QB as an insurance policy, with former starter Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons high on that list.