Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed fears that star tight end T.J. Hockenson tore multiple knee ligaments on December 26.
After one month, there haven’t been any official updates, leading to some outside concerns.
“Here’s some doom-and-gloom, something to think about: I checked this week on T.J. Hockenson,” Vikings insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson said on “Mackey & Judd” on January 25. I texted one person who said when I asked, ‘Hey, did he undergo surgery yet?’ … This one person said, ‘Not to my knowledge.’
“When it’s multiple ligaments, it wasn’t going to be immediate. So it was always going to be mid-to-late January.
But as we sit here on January 25th, I guess me personally, I’m still awaiting word that he’s undergone said surgery.”
Hockenson suffered the injury in the Vikings Week 16 loss to the Detroit Lions on a hit from safety Kerby Joseph.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announced the crushing update but was optimistic for Hockenson.
“Unfortunately for T.J., he’s you know going to be on the road to recovery, and I know he’ll attack that with all the resources we have in this building,” O’Connell told reporters on December 26. “Knowing T.J., the type of player he is, I’m absolutely looking forward to when we can get him back rolling and ready to have a great 2024 season.”
Hockenson set new career highs in receptions and receiving yards this season, falling just one touchdown short of tying his previously set high mark. He is starting a four-year, $66 million contract this coming season.
“Here’s my concern: what does he look like in the year after,” host Judd Zulgad asked.
“How long does the ramp-up then take for him to become T.J. Hockenson again? That’s my worry.”
Both Wolfson and Zulgad agreed that it is a long shot for Hockenson to be ready by Week 1.
