 warms up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/hockeninj.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=663,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/hockeninj.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button”><figcaption> Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports.</figcaption></figure>
<p>It almost certainly won’t be in Week 5, but the process is underway for tight end T.J. Hockenson’s return to the Minnesota Vikings’ lineup.</p>
<h4>Vikings HC Updates T.J. Hockenson’s Return</h4>
<p>Hockenson tore his ACL last December after a dirty hit from Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph, a former teammate from Hockenson’s Detroit days. Since, Hockenson has battled valiantly to return, and that date may not be far off — it just probably won’t be this weekend when he’s eligible to return from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.</p>
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Kevin O’Connell replied when asked about Hockenson’s back-to-work date.
“Both of those guys” referred to Hockenson and offensive guard Dalton Risner.
 warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=427,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=640,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal.jpg” tabindex=”0″ role=”button” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=427,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hockensbrutal.jpg” alt=”t.j. Hockenson”><figcaption> Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>O’Connell continued, “They’ve been working really hard behind the scenes and, both T.J. and Dalton are here for the plan that we kind of set upon at the end of training camp, knowing right about the time we get them back, it would be a nice boost for our team. So want to give them the ample amount of practice time, because it’s one thing to just open a window, but what does that practice look like?”</p>
<p>The Vikings are 4-0 without Hockenson (and Risner), chipping off the New York Giants in Week 1 by 22, the San Francisco 49ers after that by six, the Houston Texans by 27 in Week 3, and the Green Bay Packers by two <a href=)
on Sunday. Vikings football is cooking even without Hockenson and Risner.
EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. Still, onlookers have daydreamed of a full-strength purple offense, and Hockenson’s is the missing piece.
The Vikings are favored to take down the New York Jets by 2.5 points this weekend.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
