Coming off of what was one of the more emphatic defensive displays by any team this season, the Minnesota Vikings‘ focus will turn to the offense, as the team look ahead to a bout against Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers‘ Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday in week 4.
Once more, former Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson, leads the team in receiving yards, with 200. But second on the team with 13 catches and 96 yards is former sixth round pick from back in 2022, Jalen Nailor.
Nailor had a career year in 2024, acting as the Vikings’ WR3 behind Jefferson and 2023 first round pick, Jordan Addison, accumulating 414 yards and 6 touchdowns off of 28 receptions.
And so far this year he’s on track to surpass his own work, having managed to net nearly half his total receptions from last season into the first three games of 2025.
However, fans of Nailor (and indeed, his many fantasy owners) have been on edge about how his playing time may be diminished in the face of Addison’s return in week 4, having now served the duration of his 3-game suspension, given to him by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy after a DUI-related guilty plea.
How Will Kevin O’Connell Utilize His Receiving Corps Moving Forward
When Kevin O’Connell spoke to the media on Tuesday, he had the upmost praise for the team’s current second-leading wideout.
“Every time you turn on the tape, he’s open.” O’Connell said during Tuesday’s media availability, according to Vikings beat writer, Will Ragatz.
There were some lingering thoughts that suggested that O’Connell may favor playing Adam Thielen as the reliable, veteran slot-type man alongside the explosion of both Addison and Jefferson.
But, per Ragatz, it seems that the Vikings’ head coach could be planning more of a four-man rotation.
“The way I look at it is with Jordan (Addison) back,” O’Connell said on Tuesday, “we really have four starters at that receiver position. We’ll use those guys accordingly and try to keep people fresh.”
O’Connell Views The Vikings As Having “Four Starters” At Wideout
It would seem unlikely that the fourth-year head coach would actively be starting four receivers in any given play – at least on a consistent basis during next week’s bout against the Steelers – with one spot likely reserved one of the tight ends, TJ Hockenson or Josh Oliver.
But it certainly implies that there will be an active rotation amongst Nailor and Thielen – and also perhaps Addison, as he gets back into the flow of things in what will be his season-debut.
Having four starters is certainly a good problem to have – particularly for a team whose position group was looking dangerously thin coming into September prior to the Thielen trade.
Nailor has been an impressive deep threat throughout his time in Minnesota, and now with Addison back to complement Jefferson and co., it will be interesting to see if the Vikings’ offensive play-caller to dial up smart plays and clever tricks to get the former Michigan State man even more open downfield.
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