Tag: TJ Hockenson

The good, bad and ugly from Vikings 27-19 win vs. Saints

It’s victory Monday and Chris Spooner takes a look at the good, bad, and ugly after the Vikings beat the Saints 27-19.

A win is a win. The game was a lot closer than it maybe should have been, but the Minnesota Vikings walk away from their game against the New Orleans Saints with a win 27-19. The win pushes Minnesota’s win streak to five games, and gives them a win over a Saints team they’re competing for a playoff spot against.

The Vikings started the game firing on all cylinders. The rushing attack showed life for one of the first times this season with the addition of Ty Chandler to the mix. Josh Dobbs, with a full week of practice, looked comfortable in the offense.

He was throwing the ball all over the field and the connection with tight end T.J. Hockenson was particularly strong. Hockenson had 10 receptions in the first half, and the Vikings went into halftime with a three-touchdown lead.

As good as the Vikings looked in the first half, they looked about as bad in the second half. All of the good work they did in the first half was nearly completely wiped away in the second.

The Vikings defense allowed Jameis Winston — who came in after starting quarterback Derek Carr suffered a concussion — to come roaring back with two touchdowns and two two-point conversions. The offense got away from everything they were doing well in the first half, barely targeting Hockenson at all, and sputtering to a measly three points all half.

The only saving grace for the Vikings in the second half was Winston’s tendency to turn the ball over. Pressing to get the Saints all the way back, Winston made some mistakes and gave the Vikings defense two crucial turnovers towards the end of the fourth quarter to seal the game.

What should have been a blowout turned into a nail-biter at the end, but Minnesota ultimately moves to 6-4 on the season. It was an exciting — maybe a bit too exciting for some — with a lot of good, bad and ugly.

Packers LBs face difficult task of trying to limit Vikings TE TJ Hockenson

Can the Packers slow Vikings TE TJ Hockenson, who ranks second in targets and receiving yards among TEs this season?

The Green Bay Packers defense will be tasked with the difficult challenge of trying to contain Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson, and a lot of the responsibility in doing so is going to fall on the shoulders of the linebackers.

With Justin Jefferson sidelined the last few weeks, Hockenson has emerged as the go-to target for Kirk Cousins. Hockenson leads the team in targets with 57 and has been very efficient, catching 47 of them at 8.3 yards per catch with two touchdowns. Hockenson only trails Travis Kelce in total receiving yards this season among tight ends and ranks fourth in yards per route run–an efficiency metric from PFF.

“Anytime you have a tight end, that’s always a really good security blanket for a quarterback,” said Matt LaFleur. “I think TJ is, he’s one of Kirk’s main targets. He’s gone in there, and he consistently produces. He’s a guy that we’ve got to know where he’s at at all times on the field.”

Minnesota will move Hockenson around the formation, with 55 percent of his snaps coming while lined up inline and another 35 percent from the slot, but he’s often targeted in the middle of the field and within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage–right where the Green Bay linebackers will have to be.

Of the 57 targets Hockenson has this season, 38 of them have come over the middle of the field, with 25 of those 38 targets coming within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Hockenson’s average depth of target of 6.2 yards ranks 34th among tight ends, but head coach Kevin O’Connell tries to help get him the ball in space where he can pick up some yards after the catch. Hockenson ranks fourth in that category among tight ends.

Clogging up the middle of the field in an effort to take away space to operate in and swarming to the ball carrier to limit missed tackles, which have been an issue this season for Green Bay, are going to be two key elements when it comes to trying to limit Hockenson’s impact.

“Just the tough player he is,” said Quay Walker, “he leads the team in receptions, so he’s the go-to guy. In order for us to win, we’ve pretty much got to decrease his value, or whatever the case may be, and try to slow him down. He’s a great player, so we’ve just got to rally around him and see what we can do.”

The Packers’ linebacker position will hopefully be getting a boost this Sunday with the potential return of De’Vondre Campbell. It was against New Orleans that Campbell left the game early with an ankle injury, and he has been sidelined since. Campbell was a limited participant in all three practices this week.

“He’s fighting to play for sure,” said LaFleur about Campbell’s availability. “Again, he’s another one of those guys that we are going to mark that determination on Sunday.”

Out of 55 eligible linebackers, Walker ranks 15th in PFF’s coverage grade, 20th in yards per catch allowed, and has the 12th lowest missed tackle rate at the position.

This is not a Vikings offense that leans on the run game. They are averaging only 3.9 yards per carry as a team and rank last in rush attempts per game. While the run game can’t be forgotten about by any means – especially by the Packers’ defense – the linebackers’ top priority is going to be helping to contain Hockenson, particularly over the middle. With how Minnesota utilizes him on quick, short area throws, Hockenson, to a degree, is an extension of the run game for the Vikings.

The good, bad and ugly after Vikings 22-17 win vs. 49ers

The Vikings notched a major upset on Monday over the 49ers 22-17. Chris Spooner looks at the good, bad, and ugly from the game.

The Minnesota Vikings got a big win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night with a 22-17 victory. It got interesting towards the end, but the Vikings ultimately survived and handed the 49ers their second straight loss. With the win, the Vikings move to 3-4 on the season and have their first winning streak of the season.

More importantly, they’re only one game out of .500, and just got a win over one of the best teams in the NFC — and the NFL as a whole. In a season where a lot has gone wrong for the team, a win like this can be a catalyst towards recovery.

Minnesota was able to do exactly what they need to in order to pull off the upset. They made enough big plays on defense, created enough pressure and confusion for young quarterback Brock Purdy, and were able to get guys to step up in a big way in some big spots. Overall, it was a great team win with a lot of good things to highlight.

But, as with any game in the NFL, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There were plenty of areas in which the Vikings weren’t at their best. With that in mind, let’s look at the good, bad and ugly from the Monday night win over San Francisco.

Vikings showcase changed offensive approach in preseason opener

The Vikings will likely play with two tight ends more often. @TheKevinFielder breaks down how the change impacted the preseason opener.

The Minnesota Vikings are undergoing an offensive makeover, but it might not be obvious.

It’s not quite as drastic as the defense’s shift, which goes from a zone-heavy scheme to one that prides itself on playing aggressive man coverage, but it’s one the Vikings are likely hoping provides more stability and consistency to the unit.

This shift began in free agency when the Vikings signed tight end Josh Oliver to a three-year contract. At the time, the move provided some confusion. The Vikings chose to pursue tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, offering the offense a reliable secondary pass-catcher to pair with Justin Jefferson, and it seemed like the Vikings had their long-term answer at tight end.

To immediately follow that up with Oliver left the Vikings offense with more questions than answers that could be offered during the off-season.

After just one preseason game, though, it seems we have the answer. Josh Oliver’s signing was never about Hockenson; instead, it was about trying to build an offense that might offer more versatility in the run game.

Kevin O’Connell gives updates on latest injuries ahead on Monday’s practice

Ahead of Monday’s practice, Kevin O’Connell offered an update on a few key Vikings injuries, including T.J. Hockenson.

Kevin O’Connell addressed the media today to give a few updates as the Minnesota Vikings prepare for their preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller reports that O’Connell gave status updates for tight end T.J. Hockenson, cornerback Andrew Booth, Jr. and safety Lewis Cine.

After leaving the field under unknown circumstances, O’Connell stated that Hockenson “was dealing with an illness.”

With injury concerns looming, Booth “will be fully participating today” in training camp practice.

Despite being looked at by trainers on Saturday, O’Connell says there will be “no issues” for Cine. 

Going into this first preseason game fully healthy is a step in the right direction after a season where both Booth and Cine had their seasons ended early by injury. There was discussion about the underlying reason for Hockenson’s absence. Getting rest for an illness was not one of the theories. 

The Vikings play the Seahawks on Thursday at 9 PM CST. 

NFL releases important dates for 2023-24

In a press release sent out Friday, the NFL outlined some important dates for 2023 and 2024.

The National Football League released a list of important dates for 2023-24 on Tuesday.

Among the most important for now, is the start of training camp. Teams can open training camps for rookies seven days before their earliest possible reporting date for veterans. That process can begin in mid-July, according to the press release.

Other upcoming dates to keep an eye on include Aug. 29, when NFL teams need to cut down their active roster to a maximum of 53 players, and Oct. 2-3, the first week that players on the Physically Unable to Perform and Non-Football Injury list can begin practicing.

Here are some other important dates that were listed in the press release:

  • Jan. 8, 2024:
    • Teams can begin signing free-agent players for the 2024 season
    • The earliest date for clubs to extend the contracts of 2021 NFL Draft selections. (The Minnesota Vikings selected Christian Darrisaw in round 1)
  • Jan. 13, 2024: Beginning of the NFL Wild Card Playoffs
  • Feb. 27-March 4: NFL Scouting Combine
  • March 5, 2024: Deadline for teams to designate Franchise or Transition Tag players (keep an eye on Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson).
  • March 11-13, 2024: Beginning of the NFL’s legal tampering period for free agents.
  • March 13, 2024: Free agency opens
  • April 15, 2024: Teams with a returning head coach can begin offseason workout programs.
  • May 2, 2024: Deadline for teams to exercise Fifth-Year Options for players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft (again, keep an eye on Christian Darrisaw).

Detroit Lions sign rookie tight end Sam LaPorta

Sam LaPorta officaly signed his 4-year rookie contract with the Lions

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During the 2023 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected eight total players. Of those eight players, they had only signed five of them to their rookie contracts. On Thursday, that changed when the team announced that they had signed rookie tight end Sam LaPorta to his rookie contract.

The second-round pick is the sixth player from the 2023 draft class to sign with Detroit. The only two remaining players are Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch.

For LaPorta, he follows the footsteps of plenty of other Iowa tight ends to the NFL. That list is compiled with names such as Noah Fant, George Kittle and former Detroit Lion T.J. Hockenson. There’s hope that LaPorta can have similar success in the league as those players.

While he was selected in the second round, it’s understandable why Laporta could be viewed as the teams starting tight end. He’s fluid in space for a player of his size and he’ll provide the Lions plenty of ability to run after-the-catch. Meanwhile, he should provide an impact for Detroit in the short and intermediate areas of the field.

Plenty of rookies in Detroit will be competing for starting spots and earning the opportunity to provide an impact. Now that he’s officially under contract, Sam LaPorta will get his chance to do the same.

 

87 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 87

T.J. Hockenson currently wears the number for the Minnesota Vikings, but who else has worn No. 87 in Minnesota?

It’s the final countdown…

Well, sort of.

The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 87 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

Since being acquired via trade, tight end T.J. Hockenson currently wears No. 87 for the Vikings. The hope is that Hockenson, who needs a contract extension, will remain a Viking for a while and hold onto the number in the process.

With 87 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 87 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

What the Josh Oliver signing means for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings surprised everyone by prioritizing tight end. @TheKevinFielder explains what the move means for the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with a former Baltimore Raven.

No, they didn’t sign Lamar Jackson. Instead, they’ve agreed to a deal with a tight end. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Vikings are set to sign tight end Josh Oliver to a three-year contract. The contract is worth $21 million, with $10.75 million guaranteed. The deal can not be signed officially until Wednesday.

Oliver, who turns 26 in eight days, is a former third-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars later traded Oliver to the Ravens for a conditional seventh-round pick. In Baltimore, Oliver was a backup tight end behind Mark Andrews.

Here’s how he fits into the Vikings’ offense.

The Vikings currently have four picks in the 2023 NFL draft

The Vikings are limited in draft capital this year

The Minnesota Vikings season came to an abrupt stop on Sunday when they lost 31-24 to the New York Giants in the NFC Wild Card round of the playoffs. This leaves the team focused on the offseason, including the NFL draft.

The Vikings are slated only to have four picks in the NFL draft and a projected two compensatory picks.

  • First Round (#24) technically pick 23 since the Miami Dolphins forfeited their pick
  • Third Round (#88)
  • Fourth Round (#119) from Detroit in T.J. Hockenson trade
  • Fifth Round (#159)
  • Sixth Round (TBD) projected compensatory pick
  • Sixth Round (TBD) projected compensatory pick

The Vikings made a plethora of moves in the past season, which resulted in them not having a full selection of draft picks this season.

  • Traded their second-round pick in addition to 2024 third and fourth-round picks for  Hockenson and Detroit’s 2023 and 2024 fourth-round picks.
  • Traded their original 2023 fourth-round selection to move up in last year’s draft to select cornerback Akayleb Evans.
  • Traded their original sixth-round pick for defensive lineman Ross Blacklock.
  • Traded their original seventh-round pick back in 2021 for defensive ends. Stephen Weatherly

In addition to the trades they made, the Vikings are projected to receive two compensatory picks from the NFL for former safety Xavier Woods, who signed with the Carolina Panthers, and former center Mason Cole, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings would have received a compensatory pick for tight end Tyler Conklin, who signed with the New York Jets, but that will be offset by the signing of defensive lineman Harrison Phillips this offseason.

The Vikings will need to be very smart about how they utilize their limited draft capital this offseason, as there are many holes to fill on this roster. There is a long way to go until the NFL Draft, but don’t be surprised if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah trades back from their first-round selection to gain more picks throughout the draft.