Vikings rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison was issued a citation early Thursday morning for speeding and reckless driving, going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone.
#Vikings' first-round WR Jordan Addison was pulled over early this morning for driving his Lamborghini Urus at 140mph in a 55mph zone. He was issued a citation for speeding and reckless driving.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 20, 2023
Here’s the report: pic.twitter.com/NEznZGf8yr
Per ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings said in a statement that they "are gathering additional information" as it pertains to Addison's citation.
Statement from the Vikings on Jordan Addison: "We are aware of last night's traffic incident involving Jordan Addison and are gathering additional information."
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) July 20, 2023
The former USC wideout was the fourth receiver selected in the first round (23rd overall) and is expected to compete for the second starting wide receiver job, behind No. 1 receiver Justin Jefferson. His careless, potentially life-threatening behavior could jeopardize his standing.
Addison isn't the first 21-year-old to act recklessly, believing themselves to be invincible. But it's concerning that with multiple horror stories involving NFL players in car accidents, Addison didn't show better judgment.
In 2021, former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was responsible for a fatal crash that claimed the life of Tina Tintor after he was drinking and reportedly going 150 miles per hour. In January 2023, Addison's 2023 NFL Draft peer, Jalen Carter, was involved in a street racing incident that resulted in the deaths of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy.
Teams have to be able to trust their players to make good decisions away from their facilities and Addison's citation is troubling in that regard. Ideally, this will be a blip and not a recurring problem.
From a pessimistic point of view, every unfortunate NFL draft bust begins somewhere and this could be a sign of things to come.
Luckily, no one was hurt on Thursday morning, and the first option is still available for Addison to choose from.
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