The Minnesota Vikings are in win-now mode, even though they will be taking the field without Kirk Cousins at QB, who has operated the offense at an extremely high level over the last few years and was on track to be in the MVP conversation before tearing his Achilles last season.
Instead, Kevin O’Connell — who is regarded in NFL circles as an offensive savant similar to Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan —will trust either Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy to lead the Vikings’ offense in 2024.
While the organization still has to lock down a long-term contract extension with star receiver Justin Jefferson which will likely make him the highest paid wide receiver in the league, it’s only a matter of time at this point and there’s no reason to believe the dynamic pass-catcher won’t be suited up and ready to roll for Week 1.
On the other side, whoever wins the starting QB role with the Minnesota Vikings will have Jordan Addison — who showcased elite speed and ball-tracking ability during his rookie campaign last season — and is poised for a breakout year in 2024. In his first NFL season, the former USC star finished his rookie campaign with 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns, which ranked fourth among all wideouts in the NFL.
If the Vikings are going to be competitive in a NFC North that suddenly looks like it could be one of the stronger divisions in the NFL — with the Lions coming off one of their best seasons in decades, the Packers looking poised to make another jump forward with Jordan Love and a roster loaded with young talent and now the Bears with Caleb Williams and an arsenal of weapons —they are going to have to have all of their playmakers healthy and ready to roll.
As of now, there are serious questions about the availability of star tight end TJ Hockenson, who suffered season-ending injuries to both his ACL and MCL in a late December game against the Lions last year.
Minnesota Vikings Tight End TJ Hockenson Unsure Of When He Will Be Healthy Enough To Return In 2024
T.J. Hockenson‘s on the long road back from a serious season-ending knee injury.
Will he be healed up in time to take the long flight overseas for the Minnesota Vikings‘ Week 5 showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in London? Well, that remains to be seen, Hockenson said Wednesday on the NFL Schedule Release ’24 show.
“They haven’t really put a timeline on it,” Hockenson said of his recovery from tearing his ACL and MCL in a Week 16 loss to the Detroit Lions. “We’re just kinda taking it day by day, week by week, there’s just so many variables that you can go through in this process. I’m doing really good right now. We’re attacking each process. I’m attacking each one and it’s been awesome, the progression has been incredible.”
The timing of Hockenson’s injuries doesn’t bode well for him being good to go at the kickoff of the 2024 season, but making it back by Week 5 could be in the cards for the Minnesota Vikings’ star tight end.
Even with a timetable currently unavailable, Hockenson, who hauled in 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games last season, is hopeful he’ll be able to play in his first international game.
“Going overseas, expanding the league and the NFL and the fanbase, across, not just the nation,” he said. “But the world is just super exciting for the Minnesota Vikings.”
The Vikings are a different offense with Hockenson available and his presence will be critical to the success of either quarterback who will be starting in this system for the first time in their career.
Before suffering the season-ending injury in Week 16, Hockenson ranked second among tight ends in catches (95), third in receiving yards (960), and second in yards per game (64.0). He emerged as O’Connell’s most consistent matchup-winner and offensive threat in a season where quarterback Kirk Cousins and star receiver Justin Jefferson missed a combined 16 games.
