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T.J. Hockenson Injury History & Updates

Basic StatsT.J. Hockenson’s Basic Stats

T.J. Hockenson
ADP: N/A
Bye: 6
Experience: 5
Age: 27.3
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 248
40 Time: 4.70
Speed Score: 103.70

SPARQx (Rank): 115.20 (76%)
Burst Score (Rank): 127.10 (90%)
Agility Score (Rank): 11.20 (87%)
Catch Radius (Rank): 10.27 (91%)

Injury PredictorT.J. Hockenson's Injury Guide

Low Risk

Chance of Injury in 2024

40.4%

% chance misses at least 2 quarters

Chance of Injury per Game

3%

1- 17√1-% Inj/Season

Projected Games Missed 2024

1.00

Durability

5.00

Ability to produce despire relatively minor injuries. 5 being most durable

Injury analysis powered by Draft Sharks Injury Guide, formerly SIP Logo

Injury History

Date League Injury Details
Sep 29, 2019 NFL Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 He was carted off the field during the game against the Chiefs landing hard on his right shoulder and head. With a BYE the following week he didn't miss any games because of the injury
Nov 28, 2019 NFL Pedal Ankle Sprain Grade 2 He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the game vs. the Chicago Bears
Nov 12, 2020 NFL Pedal Toe Sprain Hockenson was questionable for the Week 10 game against Washington due to a toe injury
Aug 10, 2021 NFL Shoulder A/C Joint Sprain Hockenson dealt with an AC joint issue in his shoulder though out the 2021 preseason.
Oct 6, 2021 NFL Knee Strain Grade 1 Hockenson dealt with a knee injury going into Week 5. He played through the knee issue in the Lions' Week 5 loss to Minnesota
Dec 5, 2021 NFL Hand Thumb Fracture Hockenson missed the final 5 games of the 2021 season with a left thumb injury. He had surgery on December 16.
Dec 24, 2023 NFL Knee MCL Tear Grade 3 Hockenson suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the third quarter of Week 16 vs. the Lions.
Dec 24, 2023 NFL Knee ACL Tear Grade 3 Hockenson suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the third quarter of Week 16 vs. the Lions.

Basic StatsT.J. Hockenson's Preseason Player Analysis

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Bottom Line

Uncertainty. That’s the story of Hockenson’s 2024 outlook. We’ll have to watch through the summer to see when the TE will actually be able to play. And we’ll have to see how his team’s new QB situation is developing. Don’t look at Hockenson as a fantasy starter at draft time. You can stash him later where it makes sense in PPR leagues, in case he retains high target volume upon his return.

What We Learned Last Year

  • Hockenson saw good usage throughout the season, but his target share climbed after Justin Jefferson went down.
    • The TE drew 19.9% of targets in the five full games he shared with Jefferson, averaging 7.6 targets per game.
    • That jumped to 9.6 targets per game and a 27.4% share in eight games without Jefferson.
    • Hockenson’s overall 8.5 targets per game led the position. But even the lower of those above averages would have ranked fifth.
  • That followed the enhanced usage he saw after the 2022 trade to Minnesota. Then, Hockenson went from averaging 6.1 targets over the first seven weeks in Detroit to 8.6 per game across 10 regular-season contests with the Vikings.
  • His yards per catch have dipped so far following the move, from 11.1 with the Lions to 9.5 with the Vikings. But his average target depths have remained in line with earlier in his career. And Hockenson matched the second-best receiving success rate of his career last season.
  • He also posted a career-high catch rate, despite losing Kirk Cousins in Week 8 and closing out the year with Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens.
  • Of course, what Hockenson did on the field matters a lot less than what took him off it. The TE tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 16.
    • In April, he said: This put me out nine months. I can’t even train.”

What to Expect in 2024

  • That nine-month timeline would mean a late-September return. The Vikings are leaving Hockenson on the PUP list to open the year, which means he'll miss at least four games.
    • Week 5 finds Minnesota playing the Jets in London, with a bye to follow.
    • The Vikings could either view that as a good season-debut date for the TE, with a break after -- or reason to hold Hockenson out until Week 7.
    • We probably won't know which they prefer until much closer to that time.
  • Either way, the recovery figures to leave Hockenson short of 100% effectiveness when he does return to the field. The limited training ability through the offseason will affect that as well.
  • It’s at least mildly encouraging that the Vikings made no big move for an insurance TE. Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver (a blocking specialist) lead the position for now.
  • Minnesota, of course, also moved on from Cousins. They signed Sam Darnold in the wake of that departure and then drafted J.J. McCarthy 11th overall.
  • McCarthy will miss the season after meniscus surgery, leaving the iffy Darnold to pilot the offense. We didn't downgrade Hockenson's outlook for that change, but the QB situation certainly doesn't boost him.

Recent Injury Bites View All Shark Bites »

T.J. Hockenson, TE MIN

8:16am EDT 9/29/24

T.J. Hockenson Back Soon From ACL Tear?

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson is expected to come off the PUP list "this week or shortly thereafter," per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hockenson tore his right ACL/MCL on December 24.

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The Vikings are leaving TE T.J. Hockenson on the physically unable to perform list to open the season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. That's no surprise as Hockenson works back from his Dec. 24 ACL tear. The designation means Hockenson will miss at least the first four regular-season games.

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The Vikings expect TE T.J. Hockenson (knee) to make his 2024 debut sometime in the first half of the season, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Hockenson is working back from ACL and MCL tears suffered on December 24. "The estimates I heard in my reporting ranged from three to seven missed games," Graziano adds. "The latter of those would keep him out until early November, as the Vikings have a bye in Week 6.

View Full Story »

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The veteran is returning from an MCL and ACL tear suffered in Week 16 (December 24).

View Full Story »

How do Injuries impact your draft strategy?

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The Draft War Room is the only live-sync draft tool that monitors 17 crucial in-draft indicators, including injury likelihood… and adapts to show you which players to pick throughout your draft.

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