Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has yet to play during the 2024 NFL season, but he’s nearing a return. What’s the latest on Hockenson’s status, and will he play in Week 8 when the Vikings face the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football?
What Happened to T.J. Hockenson?
Hockenson suffered a torn ACL and MCL during a game against the Detroit Lions last December. The injury ended what was a fantastic season for Hockenson, who racked up 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. The receptions and yards were both career highs for the veteran tight end.
It was a brutal blow for Hockenson, who appeared in all 17 games in 2022. He previously suffered a season-ending thumb injury in 2021 and a season-ending ankle injury as a rookie in 2019.
Hockenson began the 2024 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, requiring him to miss at least the first four games.
When Will T.J. Hockenson Return?
While it seemed like Hockenson would make his season debut in Week 8, the Vikings decided to list him as inactive several hours before kickoff.
Hockenson has yet to play this season while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered last season. However, he returned to practice on Oct. 4 when the Vikings opened his 21-day practice window.
Hockenson was a limited participant in practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and he was initially listed as questionable for the Thursday Night Football showdown.
Final #MINvsLAR injury report
OUT: Blake Cashman
QUESTIONABLE: Akayleb Evans, T.J. Hockenson* and Dalton Risner*
*Returned to Practice – Currently within 21-day practice window pic.twitter.com/j9hOyq05Nj
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 23, 2024
The Vikings must add Hockenson to the 53-man roster by Oct. 25, so expect him to make his season debut in Week 9 when the Vikings face the Indianapolis Colts.
This is the second week in a row that Hockenson practiced in a limited capacity all week only to be inactive on game day.
Fantasy Outlook for Hockenson
Hockenson is nearing his return from the devastating knee injury that ended his 2023 season. Once he is back for the Vikings, he is back for you.
Sam Darnold is completing 74.3% of his short passes this season, with a 106.4 passer rating on those looks. Hockenson should walk into the secondary role in this passing game and be as good a bet for 5-7 targets as anyone at the position.
I expect there to be some slow weeks in the beginning, but 75% of Hockenson in an offense that is far better than we assumed when we were drafting this summer is better than the vast majority of tight ends in the sport.
The tight end position isn’t one to be cute with — you play the options with elite upside, and Hockenson is certainly on that list.