With Jordan Addison Back, Vikings Make It Tougher for Defenses to Key on Justin Jefferson.
With Jordan Addison Back, Vikings Make It Tougher for Defenses to Key on Justin Jefferson
When the Vikings face the Eagles on Sunday, they’ll finally have their full receiving corps available at home for the first time this season.
Vikings star Justin Jefferson practiced indoors Thursday at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, working with a weighted ball as the team prepared for the game. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jefferson also showed off his off-field humor, going undercover for a Prime Video series and fooling General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and others as a fake photographer named “Darius Frost.”
If only he could go unnoticed on the field.
Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said Tuesday that defenses still focus most of their attention on Jefferson, but that Minnesota’s expanded receiver group may be forcing teams to reconsider how much coverage they devote to the All-Pro wideout.
Sunday marks the first time the Vikings will have all their top receivers available at U.S. Bank Stadium this season, with Jordan Addison returning for his home debut after a three-game suspension.
Addison rejoined the team overseas, clinching Minnesota’s victory over the Browns in London with a 12-yard touchdown grab in the closing minute.
Phillips said it’s much harder for defenses to fully commit to Jefferson “when you see Jordan Addison making the plays he’s made.”
“Adam Thielen making clutch third-down catches for us,” Phillips continued. “Jalen Nailor showing up all over film, even on plays he didn’t get the ball. … We’ve got a lot of talented guys on the field, and that’s without even mentioning our tight ends.”
Tight end T.J. Hockenson ranks second on the team with 19 receptions behind Jefferson and has topped 100 receiving yards. Addison and Nailor have both eclipsed 100 yards as well.
Addison has appeared in only seven quarters this year after being benched for the first quarter against the Browns for missing a team walk-through in London. He gained most of his 155 yards on an 81-yard reception versus the Steelers in Dublin that set up a touchdown.
Nailor, coming off surgery to repair a fractured left hand suffered in camp, already has 11 catches for 125 yards. Expected to step up during Addison’s suspension, the fourth-year receiver appears to be doing just that. He totaled 28 receptions for 414 yards last season after logging eight catches for 137 yards through six games in 2024.
“I think I’ve done pretty well,” Nailor said Thursday. “Just trying to execute every play, be a willing blocker, and get open when I can. It’s all about consistency in every phase I’m in.”
Jefferson praised Nailor’s patience and team-first mentality this season. While Thielen hasn’t produced many highlight plays in his return to Minnesota, three of his four catches have converted third downs, and only one third-down pass intended for him has fallen incomplete—a third-and-2 against the Bears.
Vikings receiver Jordan Addison (3) caught the game-winning touchdown late against the Browns in London on Oct. 5. (Adam Bettcher/The Associated Press)
Jefferson said since Addison’s return against the Steelers, he’s noticed more man-to-man coverage and single-high safety looks.
His production has surged accordingly, with a season-high 10 receptions for 126 yards versus Pittsburgh and seven for 123 against Cleveland.
Jefferson acknowledged that both the Steelers and Browns play a lot of man coverage, so Addison’s return may not be the only factor.
“But it’s definitely easier with more weapons out there to spread the ball around,” said Jefferson, who had 12 catches for 200 yards in the first three weeks.
Jefferson can thrive regardless, but facing the Eagles’ defense with a full arsenal certainly helps.
Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell leads Philadelphia with seven passes defended, and the Eagles rank third in the league with 33 total.
Though injuries have made their defense less dominant than in past years, it still sits in the league’s top half in fewest passing yards allowed (1,297) and fewest 20-plus-yard completions surrendered (15).
Jefferson currently ranks seventh in the NFL in receiving yards (449) and tied for sixth in 20-plus-yard plays (8).