The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a unique position with a mix of young talent ripe for development and seasoned veterans that should make them moderately competitive as they head into the 2024 NFL season.
The team’s offense is set to undergo significant changes, with either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy stepping in as quarterback following Kirk Cousins’ departure in free agency.
A key issue for the Vikings is determining the contract for Justin Jefferson, who is expected to set a new record for wide receiver salaries.
Assuming a deal is reached, the Vikings should be competitive next season, though they will begin without star tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Hockenson suffered ACL and MCL tears in a Week 16 loss to the Detroit Lions and has spent the offseason recovering from these severe injuries.
While Hockenson is anticipated to return at some point this season, his recovery might extend beyond the midway point of the regular season, according to Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune (via The Purple Persuasion).
“T.J. probably won’t be ready for the season opener. When asked on NFL Network about his availability for the London game, he avoided a direct answer. This could mean that Darnold, J.J., or whoever is quarterback may be without T.J. for potentially the first half of the season, given a 9-month recovery timeline,” Krammer reported.
Per @Andrew_Krammer via @AccessVikings, there’s potential that #Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson may miss the first half of the season 👀
Krammer also noted how non-committal Hockenson seemed in his NFL Network interview about potentially playing in London week 5 against the #Jets.… pic.twitter.com/NOxdLjuDBL
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) June 2, 2024
Although missing Hockenson for half the year would be challenging, his long-term health is the priority. He should take as much time as needed to rehab before being cleared to play again.
