Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Sam Darnold is the toast of the NFL as his team is out to an undefeated 4-0 start. While the offense is rolling, things could get even better as a couple of his top pass catchers, including tight end T.J. Hockenson, are getting closer to returning to action.
Hockenson, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 of last season, is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Jordan Addison, the Vikings’ No. 2 receiver, left the Vikings’ Week 1 win over the New York Giants with an ankle injury and missed two games.
Addison came back against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4 and immediately paid dividends with two touchdowns scored.
Hockenson’s return may not be too far behind Addison’s, but could a similar immediate impact be felt for Minnesota?
What’s the latest on Hockenson, and when is he expected to return?
What Is the Latest Injury Update for T.J. Hockenson?
The timing of Hockenson’s injury, last Dec. 24, was such that having him back in time for the start of the season was an unreasonable outcome. But Hockenson was ahead of schedule in his recovery, leading to optimism that his return could come sooner than anticipated.
As expected, however, the Vikings officially kept Hockenson on the PUP list, meaning he would miss at least the first four regular-season games before debuting in 2024. As a result, Minnesota kept three tight ends — Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and Nick Muse — on its initial 53-man roster.
Yet, during the Vikings’ press conference on Wednesday, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced the team will open the practice window for Hockenson. While he won’t be ready for Minnesota’s matchup against the New York Jets in London, with a bye in Week 6, Hockenson could potentially return against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 20.
O’Connell made comments on Monday and called it a “unique aspect.” He also hinted that it could delay the start of the practice window, saying they “want to give [Hockenson] ample amount of practice time.”
Live: Coach O'Connell https://t.co/D4Eu8DR7ga
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“He’s doing great,” O’Connell said. “I’ll continue to defer to the medical staff on that. Hoping to get T.J. up and rolling as soon as possible. He’s done everything we asked. He’s itching to get out there.”
When Should Fantasy Managers Plan To Have Hockenson Back on the Field?
NFL rules state that the Vikings can open Hockenson’s 21-day practice window after Week 4, which they will officially do on Friday, Oct. 4.
Hockenson must be activated from the PUP list by Oct. 24 but could be fired up sooner if he responds well to a return to practice. At that point, he’ll count against the 53-man roster, so the Vikings will need to make a corresponding move.
If it’s determined that Hockenson isn’t healthy enough to return to action by the end of that 21-day window, then Minnesota would place him on season-ending injured reserve.
While there are divergent opinions and information about when Hockenson might be back during this window, fantasy football managers and O’Connell share a commonality: They want him back, and they want him back now.
“Every time I see him working on the side field, it becomes awfully tempting to corner (Vice President of Player Health and Performance) Tyler Williams somewhere in the building and demand answers on when we’ll be able to start implementing him maybe off the PUP and get him a little bit of work,” O’Connell joked during the preseason.
“Whether it’s just simply individual. Some routes on air to start getting him some timing with our quarterbacks.
“But where he’s at, albeit very well ahead of maybe where some of the medical folks thought he would be, there is an injury there that a timeline exists, and we’re going to try to stay true to that while also giving him opportunities to push and maybe shrink that timeline a little bit.”
A sensible expectation remains for a return to game action is Week 7.
Resisting the urge to play Hockenson as soon as he’s eligible (in Week 5) will give him two additional weeks of recovery and preparation since the Vikings have a bye in Week 6 following their game against the Jets in London.