Jordan Addison was surprisingly held out of the first quarter of the Minnesota Vikings‘ 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Kevin O’Connell told reporters after the game that the decision to bench Addison was because the wideout missed a walkthrough last week.
Addison ended up playing a big part in the win, though. His stat line was modest, catching five passes for 41 yards. But he was on the receiving end of a 12-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left to give the Vikings the victory.
The benching comes after Addison already served a three-game suspension to begin the season, stemming from a DUI incident last summer. Before his rookie season, Addison was charged with speeding, getting caught driving 140 mph in a 55 mph speed zone.
When asked if he spoke to his teammate about the incident, Justin Jefferson said that he needs to do more to help keep Addison accountable.
I definitely had my words with JA. It’s just all about growing up, and just being a part of the team, and knowing the stakes. … I’ve just got to do better keeping him under my wing, and making sure he has his head on straight.
It was a sign of leadership from the best wide receiver in football. Jefferson himself was spectacular on the field in the win, catching seven passes for 123 yards. But the 26-year-old superstar displayed the type of leader he has matured into.
If Addison can stay out of trouble, the Vikings can have one of the top 1-2 receiver combinations in football. If not, though, the Vikings may have to start planning for life after Addison.
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