A Vikings Star Is Suddenly Hard to Find
The Minnesota Vikings are 2-2, which is certainly a worse start to the 2025 campaign than they had hoped for. Kevin O’Connell’s squad has dropped an international game for the first time in franchise history, and the defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers revealed some hard truths.
A Vikings Star Is Suddenly Hard to Find
Among those is the fact that aging franchise legends Harrison Smith and Adam Thielen are currently part-time players. Jalen Nailor has outplayed Thielen, and following Jordan Addison’s return from his suspension, the hometown hero is just WR4.
Safety Smith made his season debut in Week 3, and through two games, he has been a rotational piece in Brian Flores’ defense. Joshua Metellus and Theo Jackson continue to be the two main players on the backend.
But Thielen isn’t the only invisible offensive weapon acquired via trade. Tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn’t come close to his expectations.
In four games, Hockenson has caught 13 passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. In a full 17-game season, that results in 55 catches for 489 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a pretty poor line for a tight end that’s making $16.5 million a year, the fourth most among tight ends, according to average annual salary.
Hockenson’s play in 2024 raised some questions, too, but he was limited to only ten games after returning from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2023 season. He tabulated 41 receptions for 455 yards and zero touchdowns in the ten regular-season games. His postseason performance included five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown, raising the hope that he had turned the corner.
Having a full offseason usually helps. He fully participated in training camp and was primed to explode with J.J. McCarthy under center. Young quarterbacks need a safety valve in the middle of the field and tend to throw to tight ends frequently, according to the theory.
Well, that hasn’t happened so far, despite Hockenson receiving some training camp buzz as a popular target of the first-time starter. In fact, McCarthy helped him to only four receptions in his two games; Wentz has tossed the ball into Hockenson’s hands nine times in his two outings.
To his credit, Hockenson has been a decent run blocker this year. That undoubtedly makes a difference, but Josh Oliver can do that, too, for half the money. No, Hockenson is here to be a difference-maker in the passing game, and he hasn’t been that in 2025.
Think back to 2023, when Justin Jefferson had to sit out seven games, and Hockenson just turned into the primary option for Kirk Cousins, Josh Dobbs, and Nick Mullens. Kerby Joseph’s infamous tackle ended his campaign during the Vikings’ 15th game of the year, and he had 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns at that point.
Considering Minnesota’s injury problems on the front line, getting the ball out quickly to the talented pass-catcher makes sense and should be a priority against the Cleveland Browns and their excellent pass rush.
Hockenson, 28, needs to deliver sooner rather than later.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.