Vikings' Jordan Addison turns tables on 49ers after suffering through early interception

Receiver Jordan Addison watched 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward snatch his first target of the Vikings' 22-17 win on Monday night, intercepting quarterback Kirk Cousins on the opening drive.

Later in the first half, Cousins fired another errant pass — a rare sight in an otherwise strong night for the Vikings quarterback — but this time Addison ripped the ball out of Ward's hands downfield and ran the rest of the way for a 60-yard touchdown. Cousins checked into the play at the line, per head coach Kevin O'Connell.

"You ain't going to get it twice," Addison said. "I needed that one. I couldn't let him get it twice."

Addison, who had seven catches for 123 receiving yards and two scores, now has six touchdowns — three more than any other NFL rookie. That ties the NFL record for the most through seven weeks by a rookie. He tied seven other players, including Randy Moss (1998) and most recently the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase (2021).

Moss' 17 touchdowns as a rookie remain the single-season NFL record.

"Jordan has been everything I hoped for from the moment I put on the [college] tape," O'Connell said. "Really taking on a role within our team and offense, earned an incredible amount of trust from Kirk. ... This is for sure a moment he can build on for the future."

The first-round pick looked the part of No. 1 receiver as Justin Jefferson remains on injured reserve. Jefferson, out with a hamstring strain, watched from the sideline with an earpiece and radio to listen to the team's offense.

"This is exactly what I envisioned," Addison said. "Every time the ball comes my way, I'm making sure I'm making a play."

Addison also scored on a 20-yard grab in the first quarter. During the interception, Cousins forced a throw into physical coverage by Ward, who jammed Addison at the line. It was the fourth opening drive that ended in a Vikings turnover this season.

Addison exited the game in the third quarter because of cramps. He went into the locker room and received an IV before returning in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers played without receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams because of injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey, who was active despite an oblique injury, scored two touchdowns; he has scored in 16 consecutive games, an NFL record.

Safety Lewis Cine, the 2022 first-round pick, was inactive again despite being healthy. He hasn't played since the Sept. 24 loss to the Chargers, when he suffered a hamstring strain. Cine missed two games because of the injury but has been scratched by the coaching staff for two games despite practicing fully and being available.

Cine has played 37 snaps on special teams and none on defense in three games this season. Cornerback NaJee Thompson, an undrafted rookie, was also a healthy scratch as coaches changed roles on special teams.

Kicker Greg Joseph made the first 20 kicks of his season, but he missed twice on six attempts Monday night. He pushed a 50-yard field goal and an extra-point try wide right. Joseph had an extra-point attempt blocked and missed a 57-yard field goal in last week's win at Chicago.

Joseph has made nine of 11 field goals (81.8%) and 16 of 18 extra points (88.9%) this season.

San Francisco kicker Jake Moody, the rookie third-round pick, missed a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter.

• Above the first level on the east side of U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings placed 10 American flags to represent the 10 Americans who are being held hostage and were among the more than 200 people kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.

• Edge rusher Danielle Hunter's third-quarter sack was the 80th of his Vikings career, moving him past former teammate Everson Griffen (79.5) for seventh on the team's all-time list.

• Receiver Trishton Jackson and outside linebacker Luiji Vilain were elevated from the practice squad for Monday night's game. Receiver Jalen Nailor (hamstring) was held out despite practicing last week; he still needs to be activated from injured reserve.

• To the delight of the crowd, Gophers football players hoisted the Floyd of Rosedale in the end zone during a timeout in the second quarter after their 12-10 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday.