Hockenson brought in five of seven targets for 52 yards in the Vikings' 30-12 win over the Bears on Monday night.
Hockenson played third wheel in the air attack to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but the veteran tight end still turned in a solid line that featured his second-highest catch total since Week 10. Hockenson also drew the second-most targets of any of his first seven games since his delayed season debut, and he should once again garner a fair amount of Sam Darnold's attention in a Week 16 road trip to Seattle.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Four catches in Week 14 win
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Hockenson secured four of five targets for 45 yards in the Vikings' 42-21 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
The veteran tight end was quiet throughout most of the afternoon, but he opened the second half with catches of 10 and 18 yards on the Vikings' first possession of the third quarter. Hockenson's reception total was the third highest of his injury-delayed season, as was his yardage tally. Hockenson and the Vikings next welcome in the Bears for a Week 15 home matchup on Monday night, Dec. 16.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Just three receptions in win
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Hockenson had three receptions for 28 yards on six targets in Sunday's win over Arizona.
Hockenson didn't produce much yardage but he was still tied for second on the Vikings in targets. He should rebound next week against Atlanta, but in five games since recovering from knee surgery and making his 2024 debut, the tight end has received just five targets inside the 20-yard line this season and no targets inside the five-yard line. Without increased red-zone usage, Hockenson's fantasy ceiling and touchdown upside will be capped.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Breaks out against Bears
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Hockenson recorded seven receptions on nine targets for 114 yards in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over the Bears.
Hockenson gained a combined 112 yards in his first three games of the season, though he had an explosive performance in Sunday's win with three receptions of at least 20 yards. It was also his first 100-yard performance since Week 10 of the 2023 season. The Vikings talked up Hockenson's role heading into Sunday's matchup, particularly with Josh Oliver (ankle) sidelined, and he should start to see a more consistent role moving forward.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Playing time likely to trend upward
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Hockenson said Friday that he expects his playing time to start trending upward, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Hockenson has played just under 50 percent of the offensive snaps in each of the three games he's played in since his activation from the reserve/PUP list. With fellow Vikings tight endJosh Oliver battling an ankle injury and ruled out this week, Hockenson has been taking more practice reps in packages he hasn't played in this year. Getting on the field more should lead to a larger route share, which in turn boosts Hockenson's target-volume projection.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Just two receptions in win
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Hockenson had two receptions for 13 yards on three targets in Sunday's win at Tennessee.
Hockenson was on the field with the starters and played on 35 of the offense's 73 snaps, going out on 25 routes. After drawing nine targets in his previous game, he wasn't utilized as much against the Titan, which was a surprise since he's likely just getting back to full speed in his third game since returning from a torn ACL. He played the same share of snaps (45 percent) as his two previous games, so it's possible he could see increased usage as the season progresses.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: TEs to Start
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Hockenson looked like his old self in Week 10 at Jacksonville with eight catches for 72 yards on nine targets, and hopefully now he's fully recovered from last year's torn ACL. He should have a chance for another quality outing in Week 11 at Tennessee, and the Titans have struggled with tight ends of late. In their past four games, five tight ends have scored at least 7.8 PPR points against Tennessee, including two touchdowns. Hockenson could be a top-five Fantasy tight end in Week 11, especially if he scores.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Paces pass catchers in win
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Hockenson recorded eight receptions on nine targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 12-7 win over the Jaguars.
Sunday marked Hockenson's second game since returning from a torn ACL, but he quickly emerged as a favorite option for Sam Darnold. He tied for the team lead with nine targets and easily led the unit in yardage. Hockenson's longest gain came on a 26-yard catch and run early in the fourth quarter to set Minnesota up for the game-winning field goal. He has the potential to be one of the most impactful players at the position down the stretch, particularly if Darnold continues to struggle when pushing the ball down the field.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Sleeper TEs
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Hockenson had a quiet game in his 2024 debut in Week 9 against the Colts, with three catches for 27 yards on four targets. He only played 45 percent of the snaps, but that should improve in Week 10 at Jacksonville. And the matchup is great since the Jaguars are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. A tight end has scored at least 11.7 PPR points against Jacksonville in four of the past five games, with four touchdowns over that span. Hockenson should be considered a borderline No. 1 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Hockenson had a quiet game in his 2024 debut in Week 9 against the Colts with three catches for 27 yards on four targets. He only played 45 percent of the snaps, but that should improve in Week 10 at Jacksonville. And the matchup is great since the Jaguars are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. A tight end has scored at least 11.7 PPR points against Jacksonville in four of the past five games, with four touchdowns over that span. Hockenson should be considered a borderline No. 1 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Ready to return to action
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Hockenson (knee) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game against the Colts.
With a trio of full practices behind him this week, Hockenson is poised for his first game action since he tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee Dec. 24. With Hockenson healthy, QB Sam Darnold will have his full allotment of skill-position talent available this weekend, namely WR Justin Jefferson, RB Aaron Jones, Hockenson and WR Jordan Addison.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Hockenson is expected to make his 2024 debut in Week 9 against the Colts, and hopefully he's ready to make a strong contribution for the Vikings and Fantasy managers right away. Indianapolis is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and four tight ends have scored at least 12.4 PPR points against the Colts this year. Hopefully, Hockenson doesn't need to shake off the rust from the knee injury he suffered in Week 16 last season, and he could return as a weekly starter for Fantasy managers to close out the year.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Hockenson (knee) practiced fully Wednesday.
After the Vikings designated Hockenson for return from the reserve/PUP list on Oct. 4, they had two chances to activate him for game action but opted not to do so. The team then brought him back to the active roster last Friday, and he now is practicing without limitations for the first time since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee last December. Hockenson thus has reclaimed his spot atop the depth chart at tight end for Minnesota as the team begins preparations for Sunday's contest agains the Colts.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Activated from PUP list
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday that Hockenson (knee) has been activated from the reserve/PUP list.
In a corresponding move, Minnesota placed left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) on injured reserve to clear a spot on the 53-man roster for Hockenson. After suffering ACL and MCL tears last December and undergoing surgery on his right knee in January, Hockenson was sidelined for the start of the season before he was cleared to practice Oct. 4. With his 21-day evaluation window officially closing Friday, the Vikings added Hockenson back to the roster in anticipation that he'll be ready to make his 2024 debut Sunday, Nov. 3 versus the Colts. Considering that Hockenson hadn't advanced beyond limited participation since he resumed practicing earlier this month, he'll likely need to put in at least one full practice during the upcoming week before the Vikings officially clear him to play against Indianapolis.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Won't play Week 8, should be back Week 9
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The Vikings downgraded Hockenson (knee) to out for Thursday's game against the Rams, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Hockenson's 21-day practice window wraps up Friday, but the team intends to activate him from the reserve/PUP list before the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline and have him available for a Week 9 matchup agains the Colts on Sunday, Nov. 3. He tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee last season on Dec. 24, so he's exactly 10 months removed from sustaining the injuries.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Officially questionable for Thursday
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Hockenson (knee), who remains on the reserve/PUP list, is officially listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams.
Hockenson will need to be added to the 53-man roster in order to be eligible to play Thursday, but the team hasn't yet committed to the standout tight end making his season debut Week 8. Given that Hockenson is working his way back from surgery to address ACL and MCL tears in his right knee, fantasy managers will need to be wary of the real possibility that he's worked in slowly even once cleared to play. The Vikings officially opened Hockenson's 21-day practice window Oct. 4, and he's been listed as a limited participant in every practice since.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Listed as questionable
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Hockenson (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Hockenson returned to practice two weeks ago on Oct. 4, and the Vikings now will need to activate him from the reserve/PUP list by Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET if he's going to play this Sunday. Fantasy managers thus should have a decision on his availability at least 21 hours before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday, although Hockenson won't be the same lineup lock he was in past years for what would be his first game back from ACL and MCL tears. He said Thursday that he still wasn't sure if he'd play this weekend, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Another limited session
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Hockenson (knee) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Hockenson is nearing the end of his second week of the 21-day window in which the Vikings have to evaluate him and eventually activate him from the reserve/PUP list. So far, he's logged three consecutive capped sessions going back to Oct. 4, and he even spoke about his odds to play Sunday against the Lions. "Yeah, I don't know," Hockenson told Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Thursday. "I mean, it all depends day to day. ... As long as I'm feeling good and rolling, we'll just keep it there." The Vikings will need to activate Hockenson by Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET in order for him to have a chance to suit up this weekend, but first Friday's injury report will reveal if he has a designation for Sunday's contest.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: Practice window to open Friday
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Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday the team plans to designate Hockenson (knee) for a return to practice Friday, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Hockenson spent the first four games of the regular season on the reserve/PUP list while working his way back from right ACL and MCL tears sustained Dec. 24 of last season. Minnesota plans for Hockenson to travel with the team to London ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets and have his first practice session Friday. At that time, Hockenson's official 21-day practice window will open. Hockenson doesn't seem to be in consideration to face New York on Sunday, after which point the Vikings will benefit from a bye week. The team hasn't yet offered a definitive timetable for Hockenson's return, but Oct. 20 versus the Lions in Week 7 and Oct. 24 against the Rams in Week 8 could be in play.
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Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: May be targeting post-bye return
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The Vikings are thought to be loosely targeting a return from the reserve/PUP list for Hockenson (knee) after the team's Week 6 bye, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Minnesota placed Hockenson on the reserve/PUP list upon trimming down to a 53-man roster, which rules the standout tight end out for at least the first four games of the season, but it sounds like Hockenson's return to the field could take until Week 7, after the team's bye. That makes sense considering not only Hockenson's recovery timetable, as he works his way back from right ACL and MCL tears suffered late last December, but also the Vikings' schedule. The team has an overseas Week 5 matchup against the Jets prior to the bye. Until Hockenson is cleared to retake the field, Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver are slated to hold down the fort at the tight end position.
