Vikings TE TJ Hockenson out for season with torn ACL, MCL
The 2023 season is over for Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson. The star tore his ACL and MCL in the team’s loss versus Detroit this week and will have to miss the remaining two games of the season against the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.
Hockenson was the Vikings’ leading receiver this season. He had 95 catches on 127 targets for 960 yards, including four catches for 58 yards in the 30-24 loss against the Lions. He also scored five touchdowns prior to his injury this year.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced the unfortunate news during his press conference on Tuesday. Depending on his recovery timetable, Hockenson could possibly be healthy in time for the start of the 2024 season.
The former first-rounder out of Iowa is in his fifth season and playing with his second team. He went No. 8 overall to the Lions before going to Minnesota after seven games last season. Hockenson was having the most productive season of his career prior to the injury.
The Detroit Lions traded their former first-round draft pick to Minnesota in the 2022 season. In exchange for the tight end, the Lions received a 2023 second-round pick, a 2023 fourth-round pick, and third and fourth-round picks in 2024 as well.
This offseason, Minnesota made Hockenson the highest-paid tight end in the league. He inked a deal for four years at $68.5 million. The $68.5 million comes out to $17.125 million per year in salary. It also includes $42.5 million in guaranteed money, which is also an all-time high for a tight end.
For the Vikings last season, the 6-foot-5 target posted 60 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns. Before his trade, he had 26 catches for 395 yards and three more touchdowns.
Vikings LB D.J. Wonnum injured
The Vikings had some more bad news this week. Linebacker D.J. Wonnum suffered a partially torn left quad in the game against the Detroit Lions. The defender will likely need surgery. The injury was a non-contact injury. He went down as he attempted to rush the passer in the fourth quarter.
The 26-year-old is having his best season since the Vikings drafted him in the fourth round in 2020, posting a career-high in tackles (62) in 15 games. He also has eight sacks, which is tied for his career high. In his first four seasons, Wonnum has racked up 23 sacks, 49 quarterback hits, and 171 tackles in 62 games.