Rookie Vikings WR Gets High Praise from His QB Ahead of Week 1
The Minnesota Vikings get their 2023 regular season started with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this upcoming Sunday.
As that game gets closer, there is great excitement in Minnesota to finally see a team that went 13-4 last season defend their NFC North crown.
One of the biggest reasons for this excitment is new rookie Vikings WR Jordan Addison, who Minnesota selected with the 23rd overall pick in this spring’s draft. On Wednesday afternoon, QB Kirk Cousins gave the rookie some high praise ahead of their season opener.
Rookie Vikings WR Jordan Addison Gets Praise from QB Kirk Cousins
Cousins spoke to the media on Wednesday, discussing how he feels about the offense heading into a matchup against a tough Buccaneers defense. One question revolved around Addison’s readiness heading into the season. Minnesota’s QB1 gave some great praise for the rookie, saying,
“He’s just been a capable player all of training camp. He continues to make athletic plays and show that he’s just a natural receiver. The way he runs routes, and the way he catches the football. So I’m excited to get him out there in the real deal and get him involved. Excited to see him become a part of our offense and [be] another great weapon to use in addition to so many other great players.”
Addison’s arrival in Minnesota came on the heels of the departure of longtime starter Adam Thielen. However, there is reason to believe that the rookie receiver can thrive at the NFL level.
Throughout his collegiate career at Pittsburgh and USC, Addison was a terrific player that ate up targets for the offense. Overall, he caught 219 passes for 3134 yards and 29 TDs in just three college seasons before being selected as a first-round draft pick.
Addison’s versatility to play both in the slot and on the boundary allows Minnesota to mix up their looks with himself, K.J. Osborn and Justin Jefferson, moving the trio all over the line of scrimmage.
Heading into Week 1, Addison is listed as the WR3 on the Vikings depth chart, but he should see plenty of snaps despite not being named a starter. Keep in mind as well, even Justin Jefferson spent a few weeks as a reserve before getting a starting chance.
This first game against the Buccaneers offers the rookie a big test against a stingy defense that carried Tampa Bay to an NFC South crown last year. The Buccaneers finished among the top 10 defenses in terms of yards allowed, yards per play allowed, and passing yards allowed last season. The Vikings will have to be on their A-game in order to move the ball against this group.
Kickoff between the Vikings and Buccaneers is scheduled for 12 PM on Sunday, September 10th.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.