Kevin O’Connell Explains Why 1 Viking Disappeared
Entering the season, the Vikings were assured to have one of the most explosive groups of pass-catchers in the NFL, unquestionably headlined by Justin Jefferson. He’s flanked by Jordan Addison, at least since his suspension has expired, as well as Jalen Nailor, Adam Thielen, and T.J. Hockenson.
Kevin O’Connell Explains Why 1 Viking Disappeared
Thielen has been demoted to WR4 behind Nailor and the top duo, but at the age of 35, that’s not too shocking. He’s still a capable blocker and has proven to be valuable on must-have third-downs. Having Thielen as the fourth option is a luxury.
Hockenson, meanwhile, hasn’t nearly reached his expectations, catching only 19 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown in the season’s first five games. He has yet to break the 50-yard barrier and has eclipsed 40 yards once.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell is aware of his tight end’s slow start from a numbers standpoint and addressed the matter this week.
“We’re asking a lot of him right now that doesn’t necessarily coincide with him being one of the best route-running tight ends in the NFL,” O’Connell explained this week.
“There’s some sacrifice going on, all across our football team, to do whatever is required to win one game. And that mentality can be a powerful thing as we inevitably start to get some guys back.”
What could that be? It’s pretty obvious that Hockenson is being used differently than he was in his first three seasons in purple. The Vikings utilize him as a blocker to help the depleted offensive line. Although he is a capable blocker, that’s not why he’s making north of $16 million a year.
Still, if Myles Garrett is lined up across from Justin Skule, the tackle should get some help, and that’s where Hockenson enters the conversation. If he’s blocking (or at least chipping), he might still run a route afterward, but his route options will be limited.
That, combined with the run-pass ratio that is more balanced than in the first three years of O’Connell’s reign, and Hockenson’s numbers dip.
Hockenson was on pace to crack the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time in his career in 2023, his first full season with the Vikings. Then, Lions safety Kerby Joseph torpedoed into his knee and knocked him out for the final two games of the season, as well as half the 2024 campaign.
Since then, Hockenson hasn’t looked as dynamic, although he certainly flashes his ability at times.
In the 16 games (including playoffs) since returning from the torn ACL and MCL, Hockenson has registered 65 catches for 674 yards and only two touchdowns. That’s not bad for most tight ends, but for a player with Hockenson’s contract and 2023 statistics, that’s quite underwhelming.
His role might change as soon as the Vikings have both Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw in the lineup. They can deal with top-notch edge defenders without any help, but Skule and Walter Rouse will probably continue to get the benefit of some Hockenson chips.
Darrisaw played the full game in Week 4, but was limited to 40 snaps in Week 5. The bye week will help him get back into playing shape, and that might not be an issue in the near future. O’Neill suffered a sprained MCL in the game against the Steelers and was out in Week 5. He’ll likely return at some point this month.
Still, it might be time to force-feed the big target in the middle of the field at some point. The Vikings employ a backup in Carson Wentz and J.J. McCarthy, a QB1 with two career starts. Dialing up some quick passes to Hockenson for five or ten yards could be a little easier than having them target wideouts on the sidelines 20 yards down the field.
Ironically, Hockenson has been a frequent target for Wentz in late-game situations. He’s clearly capable of being a go-to guy, and the veteran is capable of giving him the ball, so why not toss him the ball in the other 58 minutes, too?
The offense remains a work in progress. Hockenson doing some dirty work while sacrificing his own numbers is certainly an explanation. Whether that is smart or not is a different question.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.