Veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson has been a hugely important part of the Minnesota Vikings offense over the past two seasons. His importance in the offense is likely to increase in 2024 with uncertainty at the quarterback position. However, Hockenson suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season and may not be ready for the beginning of the 2024 season.
Hockenson’s recovery has been the subject of a lot of speculation in media circles and a lot of anxiety in fan circles. How well he recovers and how soon he can get back to the player he once was will go a long way toward determining how the Viking’s offense looks in 2024 — and as we advance. So, how far along is Hockenson in his recovery? The man himself spoke about it on the “Bussin With the Boys” podcast.
In the interview, Hockenson said that, now nearing the seven-month period in his recovery, he’s feeling “kind of like a normal person”. He went on to add:
It’s been great, yeah. We’re running now, doing a lot of change-of-direction stuff… At the point I’m at now, I feel really comfortable about being able to come back and be the player I was and even be better. That’s huge for me.
We still don’t know whether or not Hockenson will be available when the team takes the field for the season opener or whether he’ll start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and be forced to miss the team’s first six weeks. Either way, it’s nice to see some positivity from the camp regarding his injury and the recovery process.