Apparently, a Vikings Playmaker Is Now Faster than Ever
The Minnesota Vikings have some extraordinary talent on the offensive side of the ball, surely placing Sam Darnold’s supporting cast among the top groups in the entire league. Those standout performers include wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but also running back Aaron Jones, who has looked explosive despite closing in on 30 years of age.
Apparently, a Vikings Playmaker Is Now Faster than Ever
That group of weapons will soon get even more dynamic, with tight end T.J. Hockenson close to making his return to the gridiron after almost ten months. Hockenson suffered a torn ACL in Week 16 of last year when the Vikes hosted the Detroit Lions. His former teammate, Kerby Joseph, tackled him low, causing the devastating injury.
A torn ACL already rules out a player for a long time, but that timeline took another hit when the surgery was delayed because of severe swelling. That is a common procedure, but just added to the rehab schedule.
After missing the first five games of the 2024 campaign, Hockenson is set to return within the next couple of games. He is expected to either make his comeback on Sunday against the Lions or when the Vikings travel to Los Angeles on Thursday to challenge the Rams in Week 8.
On his status for Sunday, Hockenson said after Thursday’s practice session: “I don’t know, it all depends. Day-to-day is what we’re doing. My window is open, so (we’re) just playing it by ear each day, and as long as I’m feeling good and rolling, we’ll just keep it there.”
That is a typical non-committal answer from the veteran tight end. He will either play on Sunday or he won’t, and neither the team nor the player will announce the decision before they have to.
Hockenson is a huge part of O’Connell’s passing attack as he can roam in the middle of the field and take advantage when the defense’s attention is pointed toward Jefferson and Addison on the outside. He was acquired via trade in 2022 and has been excellent ever since stepping foot into the building.
In his 25 games with the Vikings, Hockenson has caught 155 passes for 1,479 yards and eight touchdowns. That doesn’t even include perhaps his best game. He was feasting in the playoffs against the Giants, registering ten grabs for 129 yards.
The Vikings need their final puzzle piece on the field to fully unlock the offense. Hockenson is key in the passing game but also helps the team as a blocker in the running game. Last year, when Jefferson was forced to sit out seven contests, Hockenson became the focal point of the passing offense and had a few outstanding games.
Another exciting element is that the player is convinced he hasn’t lost a step and actually has the data to back it up.
“It’s healed; it’s stronger than ever, from tests when I was healthy last year to tests now,” Hockenson said on Thursday. “It’s strong, stronger than it’s probably ever been, so now it’s just [about] going out there and playing ball. I mean, I’ve passed every test by miles from where my ground base was, so I’m bigger, stronger, and faster than ever.”
He added that his GPS data confirms his speed claim.
During his absence, blocking specialist Josh Oliver and O’Connell’s favorite Johnny Mundt have taken over the tight end position. While they have done a decent job, and the entire offense has been playing well for the most part, they can’t fully replace Hockenson, so getting him back should even improve an already solid unit.
Hockenson will return within the next couple of weeks. A comeback on Sunday is possible, but the team and the tight end could play it cautiously and wait for next week’s road game.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
The Aaron Jones Injury Situation Takes a Couple of Turns
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt