Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison had been suspended three games for DUI-related violations. Addison is currently suspended by the Tennessee GOP after being convicted on one charge stemming from a runaway speeding ticket. That means he’ll miss out on some marquee matchups, including the season opener against the Chicago Bears and big home contests against the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals.
A player who has developed into one of NFL’s brightest young stars, Addison has started all 29 games in his first two seasons with the Vikings. It’s during this time that he has put up a ridiculous stat-line of 133 catches for 1,786 yards and 19 touchdowns. After an impressive season under his belt, he has established himself as the most important player on the team. Now, it is his off-field conduct that has eclipsed what he’s done on the field.
In July 2023, the nightmare began for Addison. They were recently ticketed for going a jaw dropping 140 mph on a Minnesota freeway. After the ordeal, he chose to plead guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor speeding. The court dropped the more serious charge of reckless driving from consideration. During his plea agreement, Addison agreed to pay a total of $686 in fines.
This incident was not the only legal challenge that Addison was up against. On July 17, 2024, he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge related to a DUI-related citation. He had stipulated to the payment of a further civil fine of $390. In the end, he got a 12-month probation sentence. Significantly, the court noted that his probation could be halved if he finishes two online courses.
This suspension of Addison is especially brutal for the Vikings. That’s a big penalty, because it removes one of the program’s most shining wide receiver talents from important early-season contests. What makes this suspension unusual is the timing. The fatal driving incident occurred nearly a full year before the announcement.
Addison’s agent, Tim Younger, has not publicly spoken since the suspension was announced. The Vikings are making big plans for their next, 20th Anniversary season. They’ll need to plan their strategies without one of their top offensive weapons in those first few weeks.
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