The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for training camp next week. Aside from a few former players making headlines for various reasons, it’s been a relatively quiet offseason since minicamp wrapped up last month.
That wasn’t the case last year. A string of unfortunate incidents began with the tragic death of 2023 fourth-round draft pick Khyree Jackson in a car accident over the July 4th weekend. Jackson had been turning heads during offseason workouts before the tragedy.
Shortly after, another setback emerged when 2023 first-round pick Jordan Addison was arrested near LAX on suspicion of DUI. He was reportedly found asleep behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce, which was obstructing a lane on the freeway.
Addison initially pleaded not guilty, launching a lengthy legal process that many believed was being drawn out to allow him to finish the 2024 season without facing a possible NFL suspension.
As the legal process began to move forward, Addison maintained his not-guilty stance all the way up to the start of his scheduled trial. However, that trial never began. Instead, a new pretrial hearing was quietly added to the court calendar for Thursday, prompting speculation from legal analysts like Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, who suspected a plea deal might be on the horizon.
That speculation was confirmed when Addison’s attorney announced via social media that the wide receiver had pleaded guilty—not to the original DUI charge, but to a lesser offense known as “wet reckless,” or reckless driving involving alcohol.
Under California law, a “wet reckless” is not a charge you can be arrested for directly—it’s a negotiated plea deal offered when a DUI charge is reduced. Legally, it still acknowledges alcohol involvement but carries lighter penalties than a DUI conviction.
While the plea helps Addison avoid having a DUI on his record—a significant personal victory—it may still carry professional consequences. According to league policy, alcohol-related driving offenses typically trigger a minimum three-game suspension without pay. It remains to be seen how the NFL will handle Addison’s case. The league could enforce the standard punishment or reduce it in light of the plea deal.
More information may come to light soon, but for now, the Vikings and their fans must wait to see whether Addison will face a suspension to start the season.
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