Vikings Hit By Next Injury
Injuries have been a constant factor in Minnesota’s training camp this season. The first major downer was suffered by Mekhi Blackmon. He will be out for the season with a torn ACL, leaving a hole in the cornerback depth chart. A minor injury has slowed down veteran Shaquill Griffin, and former first-rounder Lewis Cine has also been sidelined.
Vikings Hit By Next Injury
Entering training camp, star tight end T.J. Hockenson was placed on the PUP list, ruling him out until he can pass a physical and return to the field after his significant knee injury suffered in Week 16. His absence opened the door for a bunch of backups to earn a gigantic role in Kevin O’Connell’s passing attack.
The favorite to become the team’s top pass-catching tight end until Hockenson is ready for his comeback is Robert Tonyan. On Wednesday, however, the NFC North journeyman might have left that competition. Alec Lewis (The Athletic) informed the fanbase on X: “The cart is coming for Vikings TE Robert Tonyan. Has been down for a while.”
Tonyan is an experienced player in the NFL and has been quite promising in the last few months since joining the organization. Lewis reported during mandatory minicamp in June: “Robert Tonyan has looked great in minicamp. No hyperbole. Catching everything, snagged multiple passes in red-zone period today, outstretched arms, toe-tapping in corner of the end zone. Just impressive.”
The current depth chart shows why the Vikings put all their faith in Tonyan to be the new receiving threat over the middle:
- T.J. Hockenson (PUP list)
- Josh Oliver
- Robert Tonyan
- Johnny Mundt
- Nick Muse
- N’Keal Harry
- Trey Knox
- Sammis Reyes
With Hockenson’s status in doubt for the season opener, someone else has to step up to help Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson as the primary pass-catchers. Josh Oliver is an electric blocker but doesn’t offer enough as a pass-catcher; at least, he hasn’t shown it through five NFL seasons.
Johnny Mundt took over as the featured tight end following Hockenson’s injury, but he perhaps lacks the athleticism to be more than a backup. His single-season career high is 172 receiving yards, set last year.
Former seventh-rounder Nick Muse has caught one career pass through two seasons. Undrafted rookie Trey Knox and international pathway player Sammis Reyes are underdogs to make the team, let alone be difference-makers. N’Keal Harry has been moved from wideout to tight end. It remains to be seen if that leads to anything.
Tonyan had a quiet season with the Chicago Bears in 2023. The run-heavy offense only led to 11 catches for 112 yards. In previous seasons, however, he regularly contributed to Aaron Rodgers’ passing attack in Green Bay. After a slow start as a backup in 2018 and 2019, he exploded in 2020, when he tabulated 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. He couldn’t match those numbers in the next two years but remained a factor, collecting 674 yards and four touchdowns in 25 games.
The veteran possesses the athletic tools to be a threat in the passing game, and he is the most talented pass-catching tight end on the team, who could fulfill Hockenson’s role, at least to some extent.
In theory, the Vikings could add a free agent, but none of the options are close to TE1 status. If Tonyan is forced to hit the shelf for the foreseeable future, O’Connell must find an internal solution.
Tonyan is on the wrong side of 30, and injuries have been an issue in recent seasons. All we can do now is hope that he will be back soon. An injury update will likely follow within the next few days.
Edit: The initial reporting is cause for optimism.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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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