EAGAN, Minn. (AP) Even though T.J. Hockenson’s recovery from a ruptured ACL in his right knee has gone relatively well, the tight end for the Minnesota Vikings is still far from finished.
Without a guarantee that he’ll be able to play in the season opener, Hockenson’s seventh NFL season will surely be his most challenging. However, he believes this didn’t have to be the case.
Two weeks later, Detroit Lions defender Kerby Joseph struck Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee in the same way, causing the identical injury that had hurt Hockenson during the team’s game against Minnesota on December 24.
“I don’t have any issues with him. We’ve performed together in Detroit. In his first public interview since the injury, Hockenson said on Monday, “I understand that’s kind of what they expect you to do in the league.” “But on the same hand, I would´ve much rather gone down with a concussion for two weeks than have to go through this for nine months.”
Hockenson stated that, in exchange for all the benefits offensive players receive, defensive players should not be permitted to make those dives to bring down a ball carrier. This includes a restriction on cutting blocks beyond the tackle box. On that pivotal play, Hockenson had a 24-yard reception before Joseph struck him in the knee with his helmet.
“When you have a guy 25 yards downfield, looking back at the ball and trying to make a play, and then you have another guy not even staring at the defender and just kind of putting his helmet down at the knee, you see what happens with that,” Hockenson explained. As you can see, neither the offensive player nor the defensive player are placed in a favorable position by it. With his helmet down, he is staring at the floor. That tackle in football is not good. It’s not a good position for football.”
In Los Angeles, Hockenson and Higbee saw the same physician, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Hockenson postponed his ACL reconstruction until January 29 in order to give his injured MCL time to recover completely. That somewhat delayed his recuperation, but it should enhance his prospects for the season as a whole. Even so, it appears that he will make his 2024 debut after the first game.
“Obviously, anything is possible,” stated Hockenson. “I’m definitely not going to put a timetable on it.”
For the time being, Hockenson was concentrating on squats, dead lifts, and other fundamental exercises to build strength in the muscles surrounding his knees on the first day of structured offseason training.
“Every day progresses. Right now, that’s all we really hunt,” head coach Kevin O’Connell stated. “T.J.’s going to do everything in his power in many ways to get back as fast as possible.”
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has entered the final year of his contract without reaching an agreement on an extension, was one unsurprising absence on opening day.
While O’Connell stated he isn’t concerned about whether Jefferson will participate in any of these optional spring practices—minicamp in early June is required—he did make it apparent that the Vikings would gain from Jefferson’s presence in an offseason marked by a significant shift with a new quarterback.
“There’s nobody I love having more around on a daily basis because of how he elevates others truly,” O’Connell stated.
