During training camp, it’s commonplace to see players try out different positions and skills. On the second day of Minnesota Vikings practice, first-round pick wide receiver Jordan Addison was working on catching punts. Vikings Wire’s Judd Zulgad was the first to report it.
The Vikings had a rough season in the punt return game. Jalen Reagor was the main punt returner and he muffed four punts throughout the year. Having your returner muff one punt is too many, but four is significant.
Addison did do some punt returning in college. He returned two in 2020 and 12 in 2021 while at Pitt and four last season at USC. It’s not foreign to him and if Addison can bring stability to the position, it can be a good way to get the ball in his hands as he grows in the offense.
It’s not uncommon to see young skill players with high draft capital start as returners. The Vikings did it with Percy Harvin and Cordarrelle Patterson in 2009 and 2013.
Will Addison win the job? Only time will tell, but it’s certainly something they are looking at.
