Not surprisingly, receiver Jordan Addison has been ruled out with an ankle injury as the Vikings get set to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“No doubt it hurts not having Jordan out there,” coach Kevin O’Connell said. “We’re going to have to pick up Jordan with some guys that we’re confident in.”

The player at the top of that list is receiver Jalen Nailor.

He scored a touchdown for the Vikings last weekend against the New York Giants on an explosive play downfield. That’s the name of the game for the guy who his teammates affectionately refer to as “Speedy” when talking about him.

“Just trying to take what’s coached and apply it to the game,” Nailor said. “That’s what I did and it happened to be a touchdown. So, I’m thankful for that.”

As much as it hurts to lose Addison before such an important game, the fact that he did not practice this week gave Nailor a taste of what it’s going to be like to fill the void. It’s no secret that the Vikings have long believed in Nailor and this is his chance to prove they were right about him all along.

Asked about Nailor this week, star receiver Justin Jefferson gushed about his playmaking ability whenever he’s on the field.

“I feel like countless times throughout training camp, we were seeing him make plays,” Jefferson said. “That’s the main person we’ve been talking about.”

Though the nickname speaks for itself, when giving the scouting report on Nailor, he also gets in and out of his cuts with elite quickness, and he has shown the ability to catch the ball in traffic. That skill set is why Jefferson is so bullish on Nailor, even going as far as suggesting he might be a household name if it wasn’t for his spot on the depth chart.

“He’s just behind me and J.A. right now,” Jefferson said. “That’s the only thing that’s stopping him from reaching the potential that he really has.”

Those words of affirmation meant a lot to Nailor as he prepares for the biggest moment of his career.

“Just hearing from my coaches and my teammates that they that confidence in me, gives me a boost of confidence in myself,” Nailor said. “I’m taking that and trying to run with it.”

Literally.

Briefly

The only other players that showed up on the injury report for the Vikings were safety Harrison Smith (hip), right tackle Brian O’Neill (elbow), and right guard Ed Ingram (tricep).

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