Vikings starting to form an idea of a return date for TE T.J. Hockenson

The team and Hockenson are looking towards the future. That future includes a return date for the team’s star tight end. 

When Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson went down with a knee injury on Christmas Eve last year, it was the team’s last pin in the season. From Justin Jefferson to Kirk Cousins and finally Hockenson, the Vikings could not catch a break regarding injuries.

With the bad energy in the past, the team and Hockenson are looking towards the future. That future includes a return date for the team’s star tight end.

According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the team is “loosely targeting” a Week 7 return for him. That would have him returning against the Detroit Lions, the team against which he suffered the ACL injury. The earliest he could return would be Week 5 against the Jets in England, but the team may hold off on that for two reasons.

One is that Bye Week is the following week, and the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium may not be what the team wants him to return to.

Time will tell, but Vikings fans should be excited that his rehab is going well.

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson to remain on the PUP List to start the season

The Minnesota Vikings will keep star tight end T.J. Hockenson on the Physically Unable to Perform List to start the 2024 NFL Season.

The Minnesota Vikings will keep star tight end T.J. Hockenson on the Physically Unable to Perform List to start the 2024 NFL Season.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the decision on Tuesday morning.

This move saves the Vikings an injured reserve spot for another player while potentially allowing Hockenson to be eased back into things. The earliest we could see Hockenson would be after Week 4 of the NFL season; depending on his rehab, he may miss more time than that.

Hockenson is rehabbing from a torn ACL against the Detroit Lions on Christmas Eve this past season. While he has had no setbacks in his recovery, an eight-month turnaround is too much.

Fans shouldn’t worry, though, as the team is invested in Hockenson and believs he is the present and future of the tight end position. Since J.J. McCarthy’s injury, the team has been playing the long game, so be on the lookout for more long-term plays.

Despite position change, N’Keal Harry has a chance to be cut

Minnesota Vikings tight end N’Keal Harry is a prime candidate to be cut before the start of the season according to PFN’s Dakota Randall.

Training camp and the preseason are the time for both youngsters and veterans to make their marks with their teams and prove they belong. Some of those players are trying to do so while learning new positions — like Minnesota Vikings tight end N’Keal Harry.

Unfortunately, not all of those players can make rosters, and one media outlet sees Harry as a prime candidate to be cut before the season starts. Pro Football Network’s Dakota Randall looked around the league and identified one player from each who could be cut before the season starts.

Every team will have to reduce rosters to 53 before the start of the season, so many players are prime candidates for the waiver wire. For Minnesota, Harry jumps out to Randall as the most obvious candidate.

An infamous draft bust, N’Keal Harry now is trying to learn tight end after failing as a receiver. He has the size to play the position, but if he doesn’t show well in camp, he likely will be cut before landing on a practice squad to refine his tight end skills.

If there’s a glimmer of optimism in Harry’s situation, it’s that the Vikings are relatively thin at the position — at least when it comes to playmakers. Veteran T.J. Hockenson is likely to start the season on the PUP list, and the receiving options behind him are limited.

Minnesota brought in former Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan to help fill the void in Hockenson’s absence, and he’ll likely be the starter if Hockenson isn’t ready to go to start the season. Behind Tonyan, there’s Josh Oliver, who is on the team more for his blocking prowess than his receiving ability.

That leaves Harry to battle for TE4 with Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse — provided the Vikings even keep four tight ends on the final roster, which isn’t a given. Harry is likely on the outside looking in to make the team, even with the absence of Hockenson.

Vikings sign TE Sammis Reyes following rookie minicamp tryout

The Minnesota Vikings have signed tight end Sammis Reyes following a tryout during this past weekends rookie minicamp.

The Minnesota Vikings have signed tight end Sammis Reyes following a tryout during this past weekend’s rookie minicamp. The team announced the signing on social media on Monday afternoon.

Reyes joins the Vikings by coming through the league’s International Player Pathway (IPP) Program. He will not count against the team’s 90-player roster limit heading into training camp.

He joins a tight end roster that includes T.J. Hockenson, Nick Muse, Josh Oliver, Trey Knox, and Johnny Mundt.

The Chilean tight end has appeared in 11 games in his career with one start dating back to 2021 with the Washington Football Team. He went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft and has also played for the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reyes did retire from football in May of 2023 due to a concussion but was cleared by the Jaguars and released in February of 2024.

Sammis Reyes was also drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 Global CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts.

Vikings re-sign TE Nick Muse

The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed exclusive rights free agent tight end Nick Muse.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they have re-signed exclusive right free agent tight end Nick Muse.

A seventh-round pick of the Vikings in the 2022 NFL draft, Muse was one of the team’s final cuts after the preseason. He was signed to the practice squad after clearing waivers. That nullified the four-year rookie contract that he signed when he was drafted, giving him a one year deal when they brought him back to the main roster.

In 2023, Muse was on a one-year contract at the league minimum. He didn’t play much for the team but was on the roster for all 17 weeks.

Because he was an exclusive rights free agent, he will receive a contract worth $985,000, just like safety Theo Jackson got. That is a good deal for tight end depth with the uncertainty with T.J. Hockenson’s health.

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Vikings release first injury report for Week 18 vs. Lions

The Minnesota Vikings released their first injury report on Wednesday afternoon and it has nine players on it.

The Minnesota Vikings released their first injury report ahead of their week 18 matchup against the Detroit Lions and it has nine players on it.

  • CB Byron Murphy Jr. (knee): Did not practice
  • WR Jalen Nailor (concussion): Did not practice
  • RT Brian O’Neill (ankle): Did not practice
  • DE Jaquelin Roy (ankle): Did not practice
  • CB Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder): Limited
  • RG Ed Ingram (shoulder): Limited
  • S Theo Jackson (toe): Limited
  • TE Nick Muse (knee): Limited
  • S Harrison Smith (shoulder): Limited

Once again, both Murphy and Nailor didn’t practice. They have missed the last two and three games, respectively, due to injury. O’Neill being on the report is likey due to wanting to rest his injured ankle, as he already played last week against the Green Bay Packers.

Muse, Smith and Ingram are all new additions to the report. Ingram left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury. The progress throughout the week will determine whether or not they play on Sunday.

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Starters highlight Vikings inactives vs. Bengals

Multiple starters highlight the Vikings inactive list against the Bengals

The Minnesota Vikings have announced their inactives for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

  • RB Alexander Mattison
  • RT Brian O’Neill
  • WR Jalen Nailor
  • S Lewis Cine
  • TE Nick Muse
  • G Chris Reed
  • QB Josh Dobbs (emergency QB)

Mattison, O’Neill and Nailor were all ruled out earlier this week due to their injuries suffered against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Muse has yet to be active for a game this season. The reason for having Muse on the roster and not the practice squad seems to be tied to not wanting to lose him to another team.

Reed was a late add to the injury report due to an illness. With the return of both Ed Ingram and Dalton Risner, the Vikings should be okay without him. Hakeem Adeniji will dress in his place.

Dobbs was demoted to third-string quarterback earlier this week and will only be called upon in an emergency situation.

Cine continues to be inactive which is very frustrating to many. Time will tell if Cine will develop into a contributing player.

The game kicks off at noon CST.

Ed Ingram highlights Vikings inactives vs. Raiders

Ingram will miss his first game in the National Football League on Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings released their inactive list for Sunday afternoon’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders and it included a starter on the offensive line.

  • QB Jaren Hall-Emerbency third QB
  • S Lewis Cine
  • TE Nick Muse
  • RG Ed Ingram
  • OT Hakeem Adeniji

Ingram appeared on the injury report on Thursday with a hip injury. He felt discomfort before the bye week but was cleared. He felt it come back during the week and will miss the game.

Ingram will be replaced by Blake Brandel. Ingram hasn’t missed a snap since earning the starting job during training camp in 2022.

Cine being out again is a frustrating one for the Vikings. It’s likely due to his lack of utility on special teams. With Theo Jackson having an illness earlier in the week, it did appear at one point that we might get to see Cine play some on defense but that’s not going to happen on Sunday.

The Vikings and Raiders kick off at 3:05 p.m. Central.

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Vikings inactives include Akayleb Evans, Lewis Cine to play

After a four week absence, Lewis Cine returns for the Minnesota Vikings as they take on the Chicago Bears on Monday night football.

The Minnesota Vikings have released their inactives for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.

  • CB Akayleb Evans
  • TE Nick Muse
  • ILB Nick Vigil
  • G Chris Reed
  • OT Hakeem Adeniji
  • QB Jaren Hall

Evans is out for the second consecutive game. It’s the smart call with the bye week next week.

Muse is inactive for the 12th-consecutive game and Adeniji is inactive once again as well.

Vigil is inactive due to the health of Brian Asamoah II who returns after a four-game absence.

Hall is the emergency third quarterback and will be behind both Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullens.

The big thing here is that Lewis Cine is active for the first time since the October 29th game against the Green Bay Packers.

The game kicks off at 7:15 p.m. CST.

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Vikings release Week 10 inactives, Jalen Nailor makes season debut

Jalen Nailor is set to make his 2023 season debut against the Saints

The Minnesota Vikings released their inactives for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

  • S Lewis Cine
  • QB Jaren Hall
  • WR K.J. Osborn
  • ILB Brian Asamoah II
  • TE Nick Muse
  • OL Hakeem Adeniji
  • DE Dean Lowry

No major surprises on the inactive list. Hall was already ruled out and Lowry was doubtful. Osborn was ruled out earlier Sunday morning and won’t attend the game either. The Vikings are playing it smart with Osborn.

Asamoah was questionable but was likely to be out once the Vikings added Nick Vigil to the active roster on Saturday morning.

The big one here is Cine, who is inactive for the sixth time this season. Two of those games were due to the hamstring injury he suffered and he has yet to play a single defensive snap this season. Why is he not playing even special teams? Well, it’s likely that Jay Ward is just better at special teams.

The good part about the inactive list is that Jalen Nailor isn’t included. He will make his season debut after sitting out for the better part of four months with a hamstring injury.

The game kicks off at noon central.

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