The Minnesota Vikings could also be undefeated and driving the excessive seas of the NFC proper now, however they aren’t with out some considerations.
Professional Bowl tight finish T.J. Hockenson hasn’t performed but this season after tearing his ACL late final season, and the Vikings will want him again if they’re to have an opportunity of creating some actual noise within the playoffs.
Happily for the Vikings, Hockenson not too long ago supplied a optimistic replace on his standing.
“T.J. Hockenson said he has ‘passed every test by a mile’ from a medical standpoint. His knee is healed, but obviously the acclimation process takes time. He has no predictions on when he’ll play,” Kevin Seifert of ESPN wrote on X.
T.J. Hockenson stated he has “passed every test by a mile” from a medical standpoint. His knee is healed, however clearly the acclimation course of takes time. He has no predictions on when he’ll play. Likeliest targets are subsequent week in LA or following vs. Colts.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) October 17, 2024
Seifert speculated that Hockenson might return in Week 8 towards the Los Angeles Rams or the next week towards the Indianapolis Colts.
He got here to Minnesota from the Detroit Lions in a 2022 in-season commerce, and final season had 95 receptions, 960 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in 15 video games earlier than he was injured.
The truth that the Vikings have been taking part in so nicely this season with out him speaks to their spectacular depth.
Although they’ve gotten little manufacturing out of tight ends Johnny Mundt and Johnny Oliver, star extensive receiver Justin Jefferson has returned to type after a hamstring damage him final yr, and wideouts Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor have picked up some slack.
The Vikings face a stiff check in Week 7 after they host the Detroit Lions, an NFC North rival that’s trying like the most effective group within the convention proper now.
Only a few folks had been selecting Minnesota to make the playoffs when the season began, particularly after rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was misplaced for the yr with a torn meniscus.
Now they’ve an opportunity to proceed to show they’re for actual, particularly if Hockenson returns to motion.