T.J. Hockenson Can Stop the Zero
It took some time for the Minnesota Vikings to get their star tight end back this season. T.J. Hockenson needed to recover from an ACL injury suffered on a dirty hit from Detroit Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph. Now, eight games into the season, he has shown productivity but has yet to reach the end zone.
T.J. Hockenson Can Stop the Zero
At this point, we have a legitimate sample size for Hockenson this season. He has received 48 targets and hauled in 34 of them. His 11.1 yards per reception is the highest tally he has seen in his career since his rookie season with the Lions. Although Hockenson isn’t contributing as much as last season, his presence on the field spreads out the defense.
There has never been a season in which Hockenson has failed to reach the end zone. He scored a pair of touchdowns as a rookie despite playing in just 12 games. He scored five touchdowns last year for Minnesota and three times in just 10 games in 2022 after joining the Vikings. To this point, though, he has been held out of the end zone.
That should be expected to change, and likely this weekend. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will draw the most attention from the secondary. Whether Jaire Alexander plays or decides to sit out again, the group will be looking to shut down Minnesota’s top pass-catchers. There will be plenty of opportunities for Hockenson to find space.
Last week, the Seahawks effectively eliminated Hockenson. He was targeted just five times and caught only a pair of passes for a total of 27 yards, the lowest he has posted since his third game of the season. That result was followed by an explosive performance against the Chicago Bears, in which Hockenson caught seven passes for 114 yards in the overtime victory.
It’s not as though Hockenson needs another crazy yardage output. Sam Darnold can spread the ball around and keep the Packers on their toes. When they get into the red zone, then Hockenson will have an opportunity to shine. The big body will find space to operate, and there’s no reason his goose egg can’t be turned into a tally.
The season isn’t only evaluated by scores, but Hockenson can stop dealing with questions after he gets one of his own.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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