Vikings to turn to TJ Hockenson for Year 9 game against Colts

LOS ANGELES – The Minnesota Vikings have decided to remove tight end TJ Hockenson from Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, the team said.

But the Vikings plan to add him to their 53-man roster Friday and include him for their Year 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Evening Soccer.

Hockenson has not played since tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee in a Dec. 24 game against the Detroit Lions. He spent training camp and the entire regular season so far on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The Vikings opened their 21-day window to resume practice on Oct. 4, a week scheduled to give them flexibility while they made a decision he still couldn’t play. The window expires Friday, at which level the Vikings will have to turn on him or lose him for the rest of the season.

Speaking to reporters in closing, Hockenson mentioned that he could play whenever the team activates him.

“It’s healed,” Hockenson said of the knee. “He’s stronger than ever, from the tests where I was healthy last year to the tests now. He’s strong. Probably stronger than ever. So now it’s just about going out and playing ball. I’ve passed all tests for miles from where my land base was. I’m bigger, stronger, faster than ever and now I’m ready to go out and play ball.”

Hockenson has been a fixture of the Vikings’ offense since they purchased him from the Lions at the 2022 trade deadline. From that point, in 25 professional games with the team until his surprise, Hockenson made more passes ( 155) than any tight end in the NFL, ranking second in yards (1,479).

In his absence, the Vikings have relied entirely on backups Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver, each of whom has recorded a landing reception this season. But mentor Kevin O’Connell realigned the offense in Hockenson’s absence, and through seven weeks, the Vikings have averaged four targets per game on tight ends, the second-fewest in the NFL.

Entering Thursday night’s game, Mundt and Oliver have combined for 18 receptions for 125 yards this season.