Is the Jordan Addison Breakout Coming?

Jordan Addison looked like the Minnesota Vikings' newest great wide receiver when he broke out as a rookie. The USC product filled in for the injured Justin Jefferson and made his best impression. However, this season he is a disappearing act and something needs to change.

Is the Jordan Addison Breakout Coming?

After some recent controversy over his social media use, Addison has turned his focus to the Indianapolis Colts. He's suggested he'll put on a show on Sunday Night Football, but if that's the case, it will look very different than it has so far this year.

For the first seven games of the season, Addison was injured and largely unproductive. He hasn't seen the same usage on the field, and the spots he was given to make a statement often went unused. He has only 231 receiving yards this season, and after reaching the end zone 10 times as a rookie, he has only caught a single score.

It's possible that new quarterback Sam Darnold doesn't have a significant relationship with his sophomore wideout. Some of the sour taste created by poor offseason decisions may have crept into a perceived future. It's also possible that the Vikings are simply leaving too much potential open.

Addison has shown he can be a viable option on offense. He continues to provide significant separation, and the quarterback has failed to look his way at times. If he wants to break out, the first thing he needs to do is give him opportunities. If the Vikings do a better job of incorporating him into the game plan on Sunday, the situation could improve significantly.

So far this season, Addison has only exceeded 50 yards rushing in a game twice. He has yet to reach triple figures and his only two-point game included a rushing touchdown. The Indianapolis Colts don't have a lockdown defense, but they won't just roll over either. Jefferson will always focus most of the attention on opponents. This means there should be plenty of opportunity for Addison to operate in space.

Yes, the Vikings are getting tight end TJ Hockenson back. That means there's at least one more mouth to feed. However, Addison seems to be getting fed up, and giving him all he can handle in prime time might pay off.

Ted Schwerzler is a Twin Cities-based blogger who focuses on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He is active Twitter and writes for daily Minnesota sports fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, it always seemed like a natural fit for me to be passionate about our professional teams.