Feb 4, 2023; Paradise, NV, USA; NFC tight end T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings (87) during practice at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The beginning of training camp is usually the first sign that football will return soon. Minnesota’s rookies and some veterans reported on Sunday, while the remaining players are scheduled to arrive at TCO Performance Center on Tuesday. Practice sessions will slowly ramp up, but three players will not be on the field.
Vikings Declare 3 Players Injured
Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Birmingham running back Dewayne McBride (RB15) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
One of the injured trio was expected: Tight end T.J. Hockenson. The names of sophomores NaJee Thompson and DeWayne McBride were more surprising.
The Vikings announced on Monday on their official website: “The Vikings on Monday announced that tight end T.J. Hockenson and defensive back NaJee Thompson have been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of 2024 Vikings Training Camp. Additionally, Minnesota placed running back DeWayne McBride on the Non-Football Injury list.”
The two lists both indicate the players won’t be able to participate in practices, but there are some differences. The Non-Football Injury list suggests that McBride suffered an injury away from the team, while his two teammates suffered their injuries under team control. The type of injury is unclear, however, and so is their recovery timeline.
Hockenson could miss the first few weeks of the regular season because of his torn ACL and MCL. In Week 16 of last season, his former teammate Kerby Joseph hit the tight end low, leading to the knee injury. His surgery was delayed to late January because of swelling, which obviously pushed back his return date.
Sep 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings tight end Josh Oliver (84) celebrates his touchdown with tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
During Monday’s presser, head coach Kevin O’Connell talked about his important pass-catcher, saying he is “well ahead of schedule from the standpoint of some of the benchmarks throughout his rehab,” while adding: “I think [Vikings Vice President of Player Health and Performance] Tyler [Williams] and his staff feel really good about where he’s at, but the significant injury that it was, we want to make sure throughout our plan to when T.J. makes it back on the field and can be doing more and more throughout training camp,” O’Connell stated. “Hopefully at some point when he’s ready to go, we want to make sure everything is done the right way for T.J. because he is such a significant part of our organization moving forward.”
He is an irreplaceable receiver on offense, as he is the perfect complementary piece on the inside to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson on the outside. His 1,479 receiving yards through 25 games with the Vikings show the size of his role.
Running back McBride needs to return to the field rather quickly after spending his rookie season on the practice squad. Following Cam Akers’ exit, there is an opening behind Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler, but he can’t fill that void without showing growth in practice.
Dec 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback NaJee Thompson (11) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Thompson has carved out a role on special teams as an outstanding punt gunner. His play was a rare bright spot in the devastating Week 17 loss against Green Bay. There will be competition for the role of the exclusive special teamer, but it is fair to wonder whether Thompson is so good at that job that a short absence doesn’t matter. However, if he is unavailable for an extended time period, there might be some pressure on the sophomore.
More injury updates will likely follow in the next few weeks.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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Publish date : 2024-07-22 17:43:49
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