EAGAN, Minn. — Kevin O'Connell let a smile slip as the question was asked.
How excited are you to get Jordan Addison back?
The Vikings head coach said Wednesday he can't wait for the return and 2025 debut of Addison, who ended 2024 on a heater, with 42 catches for 577 yards and seven touchdowns over the final eight games.
Addison completed his three-game suspension by the NFL and is eligible to play in Week 4 when the Vikings face the Steelers in Dublin.
He caught passes Wednesday for the first time from Carson Wentz, who will fill in, again, for injured starter J.J. McCarthy in the team's neutral-site road game versus Pittsburgh at 8:30 a.m. (CT) Sunday.
The QB-WR duo put in extra work together after practice Wednesday to sync up their timing; the third-year receiver, who has touchdown receptions from five different quarterbacks in the past five years, including college, revealed it feels like he and Wentz have "been playing together for a minute."
"The way I look at it is I feel like it's my job to go out there and make the quarterback look good, no matter who it is," Addison shared what has helped him adjust to new passers. "And I always got the mindset, to me, like it doesn't matter who's back there – just throw it up. That's how I go about it."
O'Connell attributed Addison's ability to seamlessly perform with any quarterback – he caught passes from four players (Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall) as a rookie in 2023 – to his "very, very unique" route-running and separation skills that are accented through the offense's scheme.
"He can win early. He can win late. And then he's proven time and time again just how elite a catcher of the football he is. So I think that's Jordan," O'Connell commented. "The training camp he had, you know, if you asked me to figure out the podium of first, second and third place of the best training camps we had, he would for sure be on the podium. … He was as good as he's ever been for us throughout [camp].
O'Connell continued, "Hoping he can pick up right where he left off."
"His role, clearly, is a role that he's kind of really made for himself over his time here, knowing how versatile and all the things we do with Justin [Jefferson], Jordan's kind of the same way; he could be in any position in our formation," O'Connell added. "And then that's where I'm really excited about having both Jalen [Nailor] and Adam [Thielen] – to really kind of fuel having the best group we can have fresh."
It was tough for Addison to be on the outside looking in during the initial part of his suspension, as he was unable to be at the team facility, but he leaned on loved ones and maintained the focus he showed in training camp by "taking mental reps so that once I came back, it's like I ain't missing a beat," he said.
"I was in my thoughts a lot," Addison added. "So just being able to come back in the building (recently) and chill with my teammates – crack jokes, laugh – it was a big part of the process of coming back."
Addison expressed confidence in his conditioning thanks to the work he did while he was away, treating the four weeks since Aug. 26 as a mini offseason program – running routes, lifting weights, studying film.
"I'm expecting him to have fresh legs, and when Jordan Addison has fresh legs, that's normally a really good thing," O'Connell told the local media. "The guys are so excited to have him back full time for real. It has helped to have him back in the building the past couple weeks, but now it feels much more real."
O'Connell noted Addison has been "working his tail off" to ensure he's ready to meet the demand.
Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips reiterated that Addison "looked like a man on a mission" in camp.
"Much like a lot of guys that come back, whether it's from injury or whatever. I mean, I don't know that you're looking to play 80 snaps in a game if that's what we were to get," Phillips said. "But we see it now like we have four starting receivers with Jordan back and so want to keep all those guys fresh; want to use their skill sets, their talents, uniquely, individually, with each of those guys. And we feel like all those guys bring something to the table, and Jordan certainly brings a lot. So it'll be great to have him back."
That first reception of Year 3 will be great, as well.
"That's all I'm thinking [about]. I'm ready," Addison assured.
View the 2025 Vikings Schedule.
Check out the 2025 International games.
View future opponents for the Vikings.
Buy single game tickets.
Download the official Vikings App.
