The Comeback Is Near for a Top Vikings Player
It’s been over ten months since tight end T.J. Hockenson has last stepped foot onto an NFL football field. On Christmas Eve in 2023, the productive player suffered a knee injury that would require season-ending knee surgery after sustaining a low hit versus his former team, the Detroit Lions. Without him, the Vikings miss one of their best players, but a return to action is close.
The Comeback Is Near for a Top Vikings Player
The coaching staff has been praising the former eighth-overall pick throughout his rehab, but ultimately, they have been cautious, keeping him out for a game or two longer than anticipated. Still, he has been on a standard timeline, especially considering his surgery was delayed a little because of severe swelling.
On Wednesday’s injury report, Hockenson was listed but logged a full practice for the first time. The Vikings activated him from the PUP list last week at the end of his 21-day practice window. Since there’s no reason to hold out a player who is fully practicing, he should be expected to make his season debut on Sunday.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Hockenson will make his comeback against the Colts and mentioned that there won’t be any snap limit.
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.
Rarely are tight ends the focal point of an offense, and Hockenson doesn’t have to be with Jefferson on the field, but he stepped into that role a year ago when the star wideout missed time with his hamstring injury, which shows his talent.
It remains to be seen if he can immediately play a big role again, but a couple of weeks ago, he seemed to be pretty happy with the shape of his knee:
“It’s healed; it’s stronger than ever, from tests when I was healthy last year to tests now,” Hockenson said. “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.”
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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