Vikings WR Jordan Addison suspended 3 games for violating NFL’s substance abuse policy

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended for the team’s first three games of the 2025 season. The NFL announced the news Tuesday after Addison violated the league’s substances of abuse policy.

Addison was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in July 2024. He eventually agreed to a “wet reckless” plea bargain in which a person charged with a DUI accepts a lesser misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. The term “wet” is an acknowledgement that alcohol or drugs were involved.

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The 23-year-old won’t be paid for the first three weeks of the season, during which the Vikings play away at the Chicago Bears and at home versus the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. Addison is, though, permitted to participate in training camp and preseason activities without restriction.

Minnesota’s receiving corps hasn’t had the smoothest start to camp, either. Receiver Justin Jefferson is working his way back from a mild left hamstring strain, and tight end T.J. Hockenson missed Monday night’s practice with what coach Kevin O’Connell called a “hip, leg, back” injury.

Addison’s suspension puts even more pressure on Minnesota as it attempts to spring out of the gates. The Vikings must create some wiggle room early to cover for the middle of the season stretch against the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens.

Discipline: NFL suspended Vikings WR Jordan Addison for the first three games of the 2025 regular season for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy. Addison now will miss games at Chicago, vs. the Falcons and vs. the Bengals. pic.twitter.com/f4fFt3ECU6 — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 5, 2025

What does Addison’s suspension mean for J.J. McCarthy?

The Vikings anticipated this, so it won’t come as any major surprise. And if you talked to McCarthy, he’d probably say, “Bring it on.”

That said, Addison’s absence makes the 22-year-old quarterback’s introduction to the NFL tougher. McCarthy faces a steep enough challenge in taking over under center for a team full of veterans with high expectations. To make matters worse, Minnesota opens the season on “Monday Night Football” in Chicago against the Bears. The tests will be endless.

Addison’s absence won’t change the fact that McCarthy needs to stay healthy and make correct decisions. Nor will it change the responsibility that the coaching staff, offensive line and running backs have in advancing the effectiveness of the run game. Handing the ball off doesn’t have to be a referendum on McCarthy’s ability — it’s more a tool to allow McCarthy to develop optimally.

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Who will assume Addison’s production in his absence?

Don’t put it past O’Connell to reconfigure the passing game around three players: Jefferson, Hockenson and Jalen Nailor. In 2023, when Jefferson missed games due to a hamstring strain, Hockenson became the primary option. Early last season, when Addison injured his ankle, the Vikings increased Nailor’s volume. Those two, in particular, must produce alongside Jefferson.

The suspension also pushes the Vikings toward doing what they’ve said they want to do more of in 2025: pound the rock. It’ll be incumbent on the reshaped offensive line to create space. Running backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason will then be tasked with finding holes. Minnesota could lean even further into heavier personnel with fullback C.J. Ham and tight end Josh Oliver to reshape its offensive attack in the short term.

If the situation calls for three receivers, the Vikings will likely be choosing between journeyman Lucky Jackson or rookie Tai Felton. They could also seek an external addition to supplement the receiver room.

(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)

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