K.J. Osborn
Jordan Addison
Brandon Powell
N’Keal Harry
What a difference Justin Jefferson makes.
Justin Jefferson, also known as the league’s best receiver, is in the second week of his presence on injured reserve with a “strained” hamstring. At best, he’s out for the next two games (@ Green Bay, @ Atlanta). At best, Jefferson returns for the Vikings Week 10 game against New Orleans. At best.
For now, the Vikings receivers:
K.J. Osborn
Jordan Addison
Brandon Powell
N’Keal Harry
If K.J. Osborn can stop dropping passes, he’s a very good receiver. He can get separation and has really good run-after-the-catch ability. Even as a rookie, Jordan Addison is the jewel of this group. He’s excellent in all of the technical aspects of the receiver position. Route running, body positioning, field awareness, whatever. Addison plays nothing like a rookie receiver. Looking into the future, the Jefferson-Addison combination is going to be a beautiful thing. I can’t wait. For at least the next couple weeks, I’ll have to wait. Brandon Powell is a nice complimentary receiver. He’s quick and sudden. Now, he has to be a bit more than a complimentary receiver. He has to make some plays. Of the four receivers currently on the active roster, N’Keal Harry is the outlier. Osborn, Addison, and Powell are 5’11”, 5’11”, and 5’8”, respectively. Harry is 6’4”. Kirk Cousins could use a little size among his pass catchers. As a former first round pick of the New England Patriots, Harry has some skills. It didn’t work for him in his three years with New England or last year with Chicago. For at least the next two weeks, he has an opportunity in Minnesota.
A receiver wildcard is Jalen Nailor. After spending the first six weeks on injured reserve, he was designated for return this week. Will he play Monday? Who knows? I do know that he was excelling in offseason workouts and challenging Osborn/Addison for #2 or #3 status heading into training camp. A hamstring injury stalled his ascent and put him on the shelf for much of training camp and the first six weeks of the season. Nicknamed “Speedy,” he’s a downfield threat. It’d be a great boost to the receiver group and the offense if he’s active. He will be soon and he will tremendously help the Vikings while they wait the return of Jefferson. A receiver group of Jefferson, Osborn, Addison, and Nailor could be one of the best groups in the league.
The Vikings current receiver group probably won’t scare many defenses. Even if defenses don’t take him lightly, I believe that Addison has the skills to embarrass any defense. He will embarrass any defense that treats him like some rookie slappy. This receiver group combined with a tight end group of T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver can work. If they can avoid the fumbles and dropped passes that has plagued the Vikings through the first six games, the combination can definitely work. Against the 49ers? The entire Vikings team will have to play out of their minds to handle this team. No mistakes. No self-inflicted errors. It gets a lot easier after the 49ers. Then again, this Vikings team hasn’t made anything easy for themselves.
Here’s hoping for a quick and complete return to the field for Justin Jefferson. I have decent hopes for Osborn, Addison, Nailor, Harry, and the tight ends but the Vikings need Jefferson on the field. I need Jefferson on the field. He’s so damn much fun.
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