The Minnesota Vikings made a massive trade at the deadline on Tuesday when they traded for T.J. Hockenson. The move was both a win-now move and a long-term play.
Early in the week, the expectation was that Hockenson would be ready to go full throttle next week against the Buffalo Bills but they got him up to speed.
They said on the broadcast that former Detroit Lions and current Vikings practice squad quarterback David Blough helped get Hockenson up to speed. They got to work that night at 10 o’clock and it paid dividends on Sunday.
Hockenson was targeted nine times against the Commanders. He caught them all and gained 70 yards, including catching six first downs. This was the best tight end performance the Vikings have had since 2018.
TJ Hockenson in his first game with the #Vikings:
– 9 targets
– 9 catches
– 70 yardsThe last time a Vikings TE had nine receptions in a game was 2018. Making an immediate impact. pic.twitter.com/lNe1rkS2s4
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 6, 2022
He wasn’t just great through the air but also in the running game. He helped open up holes for Dalvin Cook and was the inline threat with blocking ability that the Vikings need for this offense.
This was also great for Hockenson. The Detroit Lions won six games in his rookie season and never topped that. Now, Hockenson is on a team with seven wins in their first eight games.
With a performance like this after being with the team for just five full days, imagine how good he will be after consistent practice time.
