The Minnesota Vikings pulled out a win in London on Sunday, both in spite of and because of wide receiver Jordan Addison.
Addison missed the first three games of the season due to a suspension from the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy. The punishment was tied to a DUI arrest in California that occurred during the summer of 2024.
Addison returned for the first leg of the team’s two-week trip to Europe, making his initial appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin last weekend. He finished that game with four catches for 114 yards.
However, Addison was not on the field during the first quarter of the team’s contest with Browns in London on October 5. Head coach Kevin O’Connell explained why during the postgame press conference.
We’re always gonna keep a lot of those details in house, but I do think I wanna share with you guys — he missed a walkthrough this week. And those types of things aren’t in alignment with our standards. [We] wanted to make sure he was held accountable for that.
But at the same time, he knows that. I thought he handled it professionally. He spoke with the team to let them know that whenever I gave him the opportunity to go in the game, they could count on him — and he makes the game-winning catch.
I love Jordan Addison. He’s a guy that I care about tremendously, and he knows that every guy in that locker room has his back. He knows that I will never waiver in my confidence and belief in him. But at the same time, we’ve got standards. And personal responsibility and accountability are huge if you wanna talk about culture.
Jordan Addison Made Game-Winning Play for Vikings After Missing 1st Quarter
GettyWide receiver Jordan Addison of the Minnesota Vikings.
Addison began to play in the game during the second quarter and finished the day with five catches for 41 yards and a score.
He found the end zone on a 12-yard reception with just 25 seconds remaining in the game. The score was the 10th play of an 80-yard drive that led Minnesota to a fourth-quarter comeback and a win the team desperately needed heading into the bye week.
It was also the only touchdown of the game thrown by backup QB Carson Wentz, who hurt his shoulder in the first half but was able to return. He is currently playing in place of injured starter J.J. McCarthy, who has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain.
Vikings Head to Bye Week With Injuries All Over the Roster
GettyQuarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota is battling several injuries as it heads back to the United States and into its week off.
The Vikings were not only without McCarthy against the Browns, but also entered the contest absent three starting offensive linemen. Then Wentz and running back Jordan Mason suffered in-game injuries, from which each was able to bounce back and finish the day.
Minnesota doesn’t play again until it hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on October 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Vikings will likely need Addison for all four quarters if they hope to win that contest against one of the league’s few remaining undefeated teams through four weeks of play.
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