The Week 7 matchup between the Lions and the Minnesota Vikings was poised to feature the 2024 debut of Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. The former Lions first-rounder was looking to return to action for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the Week 15 meeting between the two teams last year.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, Hockenson was ruled out from facing his old team in the final injury update from Minnesota.
It’s a nice break for the Lions to avoid playing Hockenson, who was Minnesota’s leader in receptions, targets and catch rate in 2023. The Vikings have replaced Hockenson with Johnny Mundt at tight end, but he’s not nearly the threat of the 2019 first-rounder by the Lions. Detroit traded Hockenson to Minnesota at the 2022 NFL trade deadline for draft picks that the Lions also traded away in parts of other, later deals.