Nov 5, 2006 San Francisco, CA, USA: Minnesota Vikings fan Dan Mossberg cheers on his Vikings during the 3rd quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Monster Park in San Francisco, CA. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE Copyright (c) 2006 Kyle Terada.
Last week, the Minnesota Vikings opted against having either T.J. Hockenson or Dalton Risner play against the Detroit Lions. The decision was largely rooted in giving them additional time to make it through the rest of the season. Four days really shouldn’t have mattered, and it’s time to stop messing around.
The Minnesota Vikings were not supposed to be good in 2024. That couldn’t be further from reality, as they came into their Week 7 game with a 5-0 record. Rather than put their best talents on the field, the team opted to keep both Hockenson and Risner on the sidelines. That probably doesn’t happen if they own a 2-3 or 3-2 record early and a bit more pressure was being felt.
The luxury of a 5-0 record allowed the Vikings to play things safe against the Lions. A single loss shouldn’t have them throwing caution to the wind, but there was really no reason for this charade in the first place. Hockenson was an ideal candidate to play, as magic could happen any time he could square off against his former team. Ed Ingram has been among the worst linemen in the league this year. Risner looks like an immediate upgrade, and that benefits the entirety of the offense.
On Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, it’s time for the Vikings to put their best foot forward. Neither Hockenson nor Risner have played this season, and both should start in their first game back. Of course, that’s straightforward for Hockenson, who is atop the depth chart at tight end. He also gives another solid weapon to quarterback Sam Darnold. Risner drawing a start means that Ingram goes to the bench. That’s unfortunate for him, but part of this business.
The Rams are not a team O’Connell will allow his group to take lightly. There is obviously a personal factor in wanting to bring home a victory for him. Beyond that, Minnesota needs to show how it can respond to a loss. They are being given a soft landing spot, and bringing back reinforcements to stack the deck in their favor is a very good choice.
You cannot often add talent like Hockenson and Risner to a roster in the middle of the season. Minnesota can still improve by making a trade before the deadline, but they draw an added boost simply by returning their internal talent.
Activate the big guys and get the win.
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.