Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL 2025 season.
The 23-year-old will miss matchups against the Bears, Falcons, and Bengals after violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He can still take part in training camp and preseason games.
The NFL has not confirmed what triggered the suspension. However, Addison recently resolved a DUI case dating back to July 2024. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of wet reckless driving after being found asleep at the wheel of his Rolls-Royce near LAX.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Addison received 12 months of probation, a $390 fine, and must complete two education programs, including a three-month alcohol course.
Addison caught 63 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, starting 15 games before the Vikings fell short of an NFC North title. In two seasons, the former first-round pick has 133 receptions for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns.
He has been the key complement to All-Pro Justin Jefferson, and his absence could affect Minnesota’s offense early in the season. First-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to start Week 1, having missed all of 2024 with a knee injury.
Jordan Addison suspended for three games
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the team had already braced for a three-game ban.
“My sense after asking around is the Vikings are bracing for roughly a three-game suspension for Addison,” Fowler reported. “The team’s projection is based in part on recent precedent for DUI-related offenses.”
Addison is eligible to return in Week 4, when the Vikings face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin.
The suspension is one of several factors prompting FanDuel to adjust Minnesota’s projected win total for the season.
After a 14-3 finish in 2024, expectations have dipped, with the team now forecast to finish closer to 9-8.
Part of that is down to the switch at quarterback, as J.J. McCarthy prepares to replace Sam Darnold. But losing Addison for the opening stretch only adds to the uncertainty.
Addison appeared in 15 games during that run, with the Vikings going 12-3 in those contests. His presence helped stretch defenses and create space for Jefferson, making this a notable early-season setback.
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