Vikings’ T.J. Hockenson starting season on reserve/PUP list

EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will miss at least the first four games of the season as he completes his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.

The news, anticipated since he suffered the injury Dec. 24, was made official Tuesday after the team decided to place him on the reserve/PUP list rather than hold open a spot for him on its 53-man roster.

Hockenson participated in a series of intense workouts on a side field during the latter stages of training camp, raising hopes that he was ahead of schedule. Coach Kevin O’Connell was hopeful as well, but ultimately the Vikings decided against a more aggressive approach with a player they signed to a four-year contract extension worth at least $66 million last summer.

Hockenson’s medical team delayed his ACL surgery for 36 days to allow the MCL to heal first, a common practice with this particular injury. The expected nine-month recovery timetable always projected a late September/early October return.

He will be eligible to return for the Week 5 home game against the Detroit Lions — coincidentally the team he suffered the injury against.

Since acquiring Hockenson in 2022 from the Lions, the Vikings have had one of the most tight-end-friendly offenses in the NFL. In 25 career games with the Vikings, Hockenson has caught more passes (155) than any other tight end in the NFL, for the second-most yards (1,479).

Last season, the Vikings led the league in tight end targets (179), and not just because receiver Justin Jefferson missed seven games because of a hamstring injury. In O’Connell’s two seasons with the team, the Vikings rank second in tight end targets (325) behind only the Kansas City Chiefs (380), who have featured veteran Travis Kelce over that period.

Hockenson has accounted for 83.3% of the Vikings’ tight end targets in the games he has played.

With Hockenson’s absence now official, the Vikings are expected to use backup tight end Johnny Mundt as their primary receiver at the position, with fellow backup Josh Oliver serving largely in a run-blocking capacity.