Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) warms up before a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports.
Affectionately nicknamed The Logo for his doppelgangership with the Norseman insignia, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson now owns a significant piece of franchise history.
Hockenson grabbed 5 receptions for 53 yards out of the sky in Las Vegas as Minnesota downed the Raiders 3-0 to achieve a 7-6 record through 14 weeks. The Vikings currently own 64.3% odds of reaching the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).
The 26-year-old’s 5 receptions drove his total to 85 in 2023, passing longtime Viking Kyle Rudolph for the most catches by a tight end in franchise history. Rudolph set the previous record in 2016 when he feasted with Sam Bradford at quarterback.
Hockenson now owns the TE record indefinitely — probably until he personally breaks it in 2024 or 2025. What’s more, Hockenson has four games left in 2023 to shove the record even higher. He’ll likely finish the season with around 110 receptions, barring injury.
The Logo joined the Vikings via trade on November 1st, 2022, from the Detroit Lions, and he fundamentally changed and enhanced Minnesota’s offense from day one. He didn’t take long at all to become acclimated to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s scheme and playcalling, and with his immediate insertion into the lineup, his production was so vast, so vital, fans wondered, “What did we ever do without this guy?”
Then, last summer, the Vikings’ front office made Hockenson the richest tight end in NFL history, at least for a year, handing the Iowa alumnus a four-year, $68.5 million contract. He’s scheduled to remain a Viking through the end of the 2027 season.
Hockenson’s presence has been mandatory in 2023, too. Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson was lost for seven games in October to a hamstring injury, and Hockenson’s workload spiked. In fact, after Kirk Cousins was injured for the season — yes, it’s an infirmary in Minnesota — newcomer quarterback Joshua Dobbs developed a favorite-target chemistry with Hockenson. Minnesota fired off a 5-2 record during Jefferson’s absence, and that mark likely wouldn’t have been possible without Hockenson in the middle of the field.
At Las Vegas, in a game with virtually zero offense from either team, it was this Hockenson catch that turned the tide:
In a typical NFL game, this catch may not make the highlight reel, but in Raiders-Vikings on Sunday, the grab felt like one of the most timely receptions in human history.
The 85 receptions by Hockenson also leads all NFL tight ends, although Travis Kelce has 57 more receiving yards. For fantasy football managers, Hockenson is the cream of the crop, slightly ending Kelce at the top through 14 weeks.
Hockenson is on pace for 111 receptions, 1,097 yards, and 7 touchdowns in 2023.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.