The NFL’s trade deadline brought a big trade within the NFC North: According to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Detroit Lions are sending tight end T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings before playing the Green Bay Packers in Week 9.
Hockenson was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft and a 2020 Pro Bowler. He’ll go to Minnesota where the Vikings are 6-1 and in possession of a dominant lead in the NFC North after eight weeks.
While the trade boosts the offense of the Vikings, it also robs the Lions of an offensive weapon before playing the Packers on Sunday at Ford Field.
Through seven games, Hockenson has 26 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns. He’s averaging 15.2 yards per catch and 9.2 yards per target in 2022.
Hockenson has 15 career touchdowns and can be a dangerous receiving weapon. He’ll give Kirk Cousins and the Vikings another playmaker in the passing game as Minnesota attempts to claim the division crown and make a playoff run in 2022.
The Packers will face the Vikings again on Jan. 1 at Lambeau Field.
The next question: Will the Packers, at 3-5 after losing four straight games, make a similar move to spark Matt LaFleur’s team before the deadline?
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbxb1xg7g19wqdc player_id=none image=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]