Josh Dobbs Already Has a Favorite Receiver for the Vikings
The term receiver may be a touch misleading. After all, Josh Dobbs demonstrated the greatest chemistry with a tight end while helping to lead a truly remarkable upset win over the Atlanta Falcons.
When the final whistle was blown, the Vikings had TE1 T.J. Hockenson as the leader in targets, catches, and yards. Not a bad effort, especially since Hockenson was clearly working through an injury to his side. Given all that had transpired — already seeing Jaren Hall, Cam Akers, and K.J. Osborn leave due to injury — the ability for the tight end to stick around was potentially game saving.
Josh Dobbs, T.J. Hockenson, and a Gutsy Victory in Atlanta
Brandon Powell caught the TD pass at the end. Earlier in the game, Alexander Mattison snatched a Dobbs pass out of the sky to score a different touchdown. Trishton Jackson delivered on a 2-point conversion.
All important players and plays, but none of them equal what Hockenson meant (at least in terms of Dobbs’ attention).
Originally a Detroit Lion, T.J. Hockenson is now a Minnesota Viking for precisely the kind of situation in Atlanta. While working with the QB4 and without two of the top receivers, Hockenson’s effort and compete were brought to a different level.
Take a look at the effort we’re discussing:
Just sensational stuff from the tight end, especially when we remember that he was playing hurt. Now, he didn’t put together a perfect day; there will be plays the TE wants to have back. In the final two minutes and on the Atlanta 37, Dobbs and Hockenson couldn’t come together for a completion.
Elsewhere in that same drive, though, Hockenson came up huge. An earlier 3rd & 1 resulted in a 5-yard catch for the tight end. On 2nd & 10 from the Atlanta 12, Hockenson picked up 6 yards. That’s the play that directly preceded the touchdown pass to Powell to win the game.
After the game, Kevin O’Connell was sure to send some praise in Hockenson’s direction. “T.J. had a oblique, rib kind of issue,” the coach notes, “but what a warrior to continue to battle through it.” Shortly thereafter, O’Connell directs praise toward Powell for working through cramps to keep going back on the field.
When healthy, Justin Jefferson should resume his role as the top target. He’s on a completely different level than almost every other pass catcher in the NFL, meaning he rightly demands humongous attention from the QB. Expect #18 to feast once his hamstring allows him to pull up a seat to the table.
There’s something to be said, though, for a target who is standing at 6’5″ and tipping the scales at 248. He’s up to 60 catches, 547 yards, and 3 touchdowns for the season. Some continued work with Dobbs will involve seeing those numbers push considerably higher even if Jefferson gets worked back in as the top option in the passing game.
The Minnesota Vikings’ next game will take place against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium. Both teams sit at 5-4 and are in the hunt for one of the coveted playoff spots in the NFC.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.