Kyler Murray’s return gives the Vikings a much-needed jolt, and it may mean even more for Jordan Addison than anyone else.
After Sunday’s 9-3 win over the rival Bears, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters on Monday afternoon that Murray has cleared the final stage of concussion protocol and will start when the 2-0 Vikings visit the winless Buccaneers in Tampa next weekend.
Carson Wentz filled in well while Murray was sidelined. He threw three touchdowns in Week 1 against the Packers and stayed away from costly mistakes in the sloppy rain game in Chicago on Sunday.
That was solid backup work. But Murray changes the ceiling of the offense in a way Wentz simply can’t.
Even after a shaky start to his Vikings stint that lasted less than a quarter in Week 1, Murray’s mobility and arm strength immediately make the group around him more dangerous. He is also nearly five years younger than Wentz, who cannot hold off Father Time forever.
The player who stands to gain the most from Murray’s return is Addison.
The fourth-year receiver has opened his 2026 season with just two catches on seven targets for 21 receiving yards. That is not the kind of start he wanted, especially with a new contract in the background. The issue has been timing with Wentz, something that even showed up at times last season when Wentz was under center.
There’s zero reason this shouldn’t have been a gimme throw. pic.twitter.com/ZlkKHI5Rmo
Murray and Addison have not had a chance to show that connection in game action this season, but they did look in sync during training camp. Murray is also a sharper processor and thrower than the 33-year-old journeyman, which should matter immediately.
Addison’s slow start also creates a clean opening for Minnesota to get him the ball early, and that could ripple through the rest of the offense as the game wears on.
A big outing for Addison feels overdue. The Vikings picked up his fifth-year option this past offseason, buying time for both sides to work toward a long-term extension for the former Biletnikoff Award winner. Then Zay Flowers landed a four-year, $140 million extension at the beginning of August, pushing the receiver market even higher.
Addison’s own numbers likely keep him from getting close to Flowers’s deal, but the combination of his talent and the cost of doing business at wide receiver keeps the pressure on. His career totals - 177 receptions for 2,417 yards and 22 touchdowns in 48 games - have been shaped by poor quarterback play in 2024, but his ability is obvious enough that Minnesota wants to get something done.
Murray’s return gives Addison his best chance to break out and helps the Vikings keep piling up wins. Their first test together this season comes against Tampa Bay, a team Addison has already beaten up before. In his lone meeting with the Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2023 season, he had four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
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