With Jordan Addison hit with a three-game suspension to start the 2025 season, Vikings fans immediately started asking the obvious: Are they going to bring in another wide receiver? It seemed like a no-brainer, though. Addison was a huge part of the offense last year, and now the team has to fill a big void next to Justin Jefferson for almost a month. But the front office isn’t showing any signs of urgency. Not yet, at least. But here’s the real deal.

Addison’s suspension might not even be the main reason the Vikings would bring in another receiver. There’s a bigger issue underneath the suspension, one that can make or break their entire season.

Vikings analyst Tyler Forness took to X to highlight that there’s a bigger issue bubbling underneath Addison’s suspension: the WR depth. “If the Vikings do add a WR, it likely won’t be due to Jordan Addison’s suspension, but rather concern about their depth overall,” he said. Let’s add some context to this.

Jordan Addison is officially out for the first three games of the 2025 season after pleading no contest to a reduced “wet reckless” charge tied to his 2024 DUI arrest. He’ll miss the matchups against the Bears, Falcons, and Bengals. The silver lining? He’s still eligible to fully participate in training camp and preseason, so he’ll be able to stay in rhythm before the ban begins.

On paper, losing Addison for three games feels like a big blow. Especially with Justin Jefferson coming off a 1,500-yard, 10-touchdown season in just 15 games. But according to Tyler, the team isn’t necessarily scrambling to replace Addison directly.

If Minnesota does make a move at wide receiver, it’s more about bolstering overall depth than panic. With guys like Jalen Nailor and Rondale Moore already in the mix, the Vikings feel they’ve got reliable enough backups to weather the early-season stretch.

Let’s put it this way: the Vikings took down both the 49ers and Texans last season. And they did it without Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson in either game. The situational players stepped up when it mattered. So no, Addison being suspended isn’t the end of the world because Kevin O’Connell knows he can rely on Nailor and Moore. The real concern is, who’s behind those two?

They’ve got six WRs on paper, sure. But there’s no real alternative besides the duo. That’s the problem the front issues need to solve. Addison or Jefferson being out won’t be the end of the world, but if those two are sidelined? It sure would be. Nailor is poised to be the Vikings’ ultimate depth weapon.

Vikings are betting big on Jalen Nailor

If the front office does not end up going in for another WR, it’s because they believe Jalen will hold the fort just fine. Jalen Nailor is heading into his fourth NFL season as the projected WR2 as Addison serves his three-game suspension.

Don’t sleep on him. As a sixth-rounder last year, Nailor quietly put together a strong campaign: 28 catches, 414 yards, and six touchdowns. He even led the team in yards per catch (14.8) among guys with 40+ targets. Trailing only Justin Jefferson and actually edging out Addison.

Nailor has shown time and again that he’s not just a burner. The man is explosive in contested situations too. He delivered 22 first-down receptions out of 28 catches last season. He’s making plays in traffic, winning contested balls, and showing he can be a go-to option when it matters most.

That said, there is still a hint of concern. Per PFF, he had an 11% drop rate last season: 4 drops on just 33 catchable balls, placing him among the least reliable hands in a crowded WR room. But camp reports say he’s been putting in the work. Coaches have seen a cleaner version of Nailor: sharper routes, better focus, and way fewer mental errors. Plus, he’s earning praise for his blocking and ability to separate all over the field.

Based on the early 2025 depth chart, the Vikings look set to roll with Justin Jefferson, Jalen Nailor, and Rondale Moore as their top three wideouts to start the season. The front office is clearly not too worried right now, and if Jalen turns up? They’d have no reason to.