Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer December 26, 2023, 4:26 p.m. ET
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- Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL for ESPN. Kevin has been covering the NFL for over 20 years and joined ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and The Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. You can follow him on Twitter @SeifertESPN.
A series of tests revealed that Minnesota Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson tore both the ACL and ACL in his right knee during the team's 30-24 loss Sunday to the Detroit Lions, coach Kevin O' Connell on Tuesday.
Hockenson will be placed on injured reserve and surgery will be scheduled soon.
Recovery from a double ligament tear can take a little longer, but O'Connell said: “Knowing TJ, the type of player he is, I'm absolutely looking forward to when we can get him back on track and ready for a great 2024 .” Season.”
The injury occurred on the Vikings' second offensive play of the third quarter. After catching a 24-yard pass, Hockenson absorbed a hit on the knee from Lions safety Kerby Joseph. He immediately jogged to the sideline and was soon ruled out of the game.
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“It was a very, very unfortunate game,” O'Connell said. “We did a good job [in the NFL] to help block some of those head and neck hits against the defenseless players, [but] Some of these low hits can be incredibly disastrous for guys. It was terrible to see this happen.
Hockenson had a career year in his first full season with the Vikings. He ranks second in the NFL in catches by tight ends (95), third in receiving yards (960), and was in a season where both quarterback Kirk Cousins and receiver Justin Jefferson were lost due to serious injuries were out, the Vikings' most consistent offensive threat.
Since the Vikings acquired him from the Lions at the 2022 trade deadline, Hockenson leads all NFL tight ends with 155 receptions. In August, he signed a four-year contract extension that will pay him at least $66 million and up to $68.5 million.
The Vikings' remaining healthy tight ends are veterans Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt, who have combined for 27 receptions this season. Second-year player Nick Muse is also on the 53-man roster but has yet to play a game.
Meanwhile, O'Connell also confirmed that linebacker DJ Wonnum suffered a torn left quadriceps during Sunday's game and will miss the remainder of the season. Wonnum, who had a career-high eight sacks this season, will be eligible for free agency this winter.
Two other players who left with injuries – receiver Jordan Addison (ankle) and cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (shoulder) – are day-to-day, O'Connell said.