But in the third quarter, Vikings fans collectively held their breath after Addison left the game with an apparent injury and went to the locker room after falling hard on a diving catch. Fortunately, it was just a cramp, and after receiving treatment, Addison returned for the fourth quarter.
He capped the night with a crucial third down on the Vikings’ final drive, helping to run down the clock late in the game as Minnesota held on for the victory, handing the 49ers their second loss in as many weeks.
“Jordan has been everything I hoped for since taking time off from him in college, but he’s been more than that,” O’Connell said. “He’s really taken on a role within our team, within our offense, he’s earned an incredible amount of trust from Kirk and our other guys, Jordan was fantastic tonight, and it’s definitely a performance he can build on for the team . future.”
Addison, the No. 23 pick in this year’s draft, had already gotten off to a strong start in his first year in the NFL, posting 277 yards and four touchdowns in Monday’s game.
But with a hamstring injury that landed star Justin Jefferson on injured reserve, Addison has been charged with filling his teammate’s big shoes, and filling them he did, putting together a dominant performance in Minnesota’s second game without Jefferson and doing so against one of the best. defenses in the league.
“You have to step up when it’s your time, and our first-round receiver, he has to step up and he showed up tonight,” safety Camryn Bynum said after the game in an interview with NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. . “We know he’s capable of all that and always a baller. We expect that from him, and really, he’s crazy. We expect that and he’ll continue to play.”
Addison will look to continue building on his performance in the Vikings’ next game against the division rival Packers, as Minnesota looks to get to .500 for the first time this season.