If Jordan Addison Is Suspended, Don’t Overlook 1 Key Difference from Last Year
A year ago, wideout Jordan Addison appeared in the news for the second consecutive offseason with a driving-related incident. His legal case is still ongoing, and most expect him to receive a suspension to start the season for two or three games.
If Jordan Addison Misses Time, 1 Thing Is Different This Season
In hindsight, that suspension should’ve been given a year ago, as the receiver ironically missed three quarters of the season opener against the New York Giants and the following two games due to an ankle injury.
It was Jalen Nailor who had to step up and become a reliable target next to Justin Jefferson in Sam Darnold’s aerial attack. If Addison was forced to sit out a few games, it would once again be Nailor as the team’s WR2 and likely be someone between rookie Tai Felton or veteran wideout Rondale Moore, who is still recovering from a nasty knee injury, in the WR3 role.
The one key difference to Addison’s absence in 2024, however, would be someone else: Tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson completes Minnesota’s elite pass-catching trio and is one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL. Last year, when Addison was out, Hockenson was still sidelined by his knee injury, and his backups, Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt, couldn’t replace him as targets.
Think back to the 2023 campaign when Jefferson sustained his hamstring injury. Rookie Addison was suddenly the top receiver, and K.J. Osborn was the next man in line. Quarterback Josh Dobbs heavily relied on the star tight end, who single-handedly carved up the Saints’ defense in the first half despite suffering from a painful rib injury.
In the seven games without Jefferson, Hockenson produced 50 receptions for 532 yards and three touchdowns. Just for reference, in a full 17-game season, that results in 1,292 yards and seven scores. The yards would be the 8th-most ever for a tight end in a single season.
Hockenson was acquired in the 2022 season when the Vikings lost Irv Smith to an injury. Everyone expected them to add a low-end starter at the deadline, but Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made his first splash as Minnesota’s GM.
The tight end immediately clicked with QB Kirk Cousins and became a reliable target. His best game came in the postseason, when the Giants focused so much on Jefferson that he was open all game. In his second season, even outside of the Dobbs targets, Hockenson had a decent year that was cut short due to the ACL tear following a controversial Kerby Joseph hit.
The recovery extended into the 2024 season, and Hockenson played in only ten games. He was eased in and started slowly. Throughout the season, Hock accumulated 41 receptions for 455 yards. The tight end caught his only touchdown of the season in the playoffs when he was one of the few bright spots on offense. Overall, the season was disappointing from a production standpoint.
Despite only playing in 25 games in the last two seasons, Hockenson ranks sixth in receiving yards among tight ends since 2023.
Hockenson’s contract handed to him in the 2023 offseason was controversial at the time, and the injury didn’t help him repay that salary on the field. However, his average annual value of $16.5 million now ranks him fourth in the league. It might have always been a million or two too much, but that’s barely relevant in the grand picture.
The pass-catcher has proven to be a difference-maker on the field, as he is one of the few tight ends that teams can run a passing attack with as the primary receiver. When opponents focus on Jefferson, he can punish those holes. As a blocker, he is certainly not an elite player, but he is still helpful in that regard.
He didn’t look fully healthy last season, but a year removed from his return and with a full offseason in his bag, he should be back at 100%. If Addison is out, expect Hockenson to be a frequent target for quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The young passer also fed tight end Colston Loveland at Michigan, and his middle-of-the-field throws have drawn praise.
Hockenson just turned 28.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.