One of the most impressive developments at Minnesota Vikings training camp has been the chemistry between J.J. McCarthy and Jordan Addison. It showed up in Minnesota’s first preseason game when the duo hooked up for three catches for 33 yards. Throughout practice, McCarthy’s anticipation throws have consistently hit Addison at the perfect moment.
It could be that we are sitting on the best season of Addison’s career. But a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy has tempered those expectations. The ban was expected following Addison’s DUI arrest in July 2024, but it leaves fans wondering how they will survive his absence.
Justin Jefferson‘s return from a hamstring injury will help, but questions about Jalen Nailor, Tai Felton, and Lucky Jackson leave a void at WR2. Some fans may want the Vikings to make a big move, like signing Odell Beckham Jr. or trading for Adam Thielen.
But Minnesota may already have its answer if T.J. Hockenson has a rebound season.
Hockenson has solidified himself as one of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s best moves. Acquired from the Detroit Lions at the 2022 trade deadline, Hockenson ranked second in receiving yards (1,874), third in receptions (181), and fourth in receiving touchdowns between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His first full season in Minnesota was even more spectacular, grabbing 95 passes for 960 yards and a touchdown.
It was validation for a four-year, $66 million contract extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history and felt like the best was to come. However, a hit from Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph tore his ACL and MCL on Christmas Eve 2023, altering his trajectory.
Hockenson came back to play 10 games last season, but he didn’t look like the same player. The injury necessitated an extensive rehabilitation process that kept him out until November, and he didn’t have the opportunity to develop chemistry with Sam Darnold. If Hockenson played the whole year, he would have had a solid line with 82 receptions for 910 yards, but he failed to score a single touchdown.
Some Vikings fans may be upset and already be scouting college tight ends to find a replacement. But with the injury another year behind him, Hockenson was able to get to work immediately with McCarthy. Hockenson invited his new quarterback to his Nashville home to work out during the offseason, and the first impression helped them get on the same page.
“That’s my dog. He is one of the best people that I have been around,” Hockenson said of McCarthy while attending the Tight End University (TEU) summit in June. “Just a young guy that’s hungry and wants to learn, he wants to get better. … He wants to be great in this league, and I respect that, and he is willing to do the things and the hard things it takes to be great.”
Hockenson gave a similar impression when he spoke to reporters after Wednesday’s joint practice with the New England Patriots.
“He doesn’t feel like a young guy,” Hockenson said. “The way he controls the huddle, the way he comes in, his energy in the huddle, how he talks about the game, and the mentality, it’s high-level thinking.”
Regardless of the wavelength at which the two sides are operating, it appears to be working. McCarthy found Hockenson on a fade route during Thursday’s practice with the Patriots, perhaps a precursor to his first official touchdown since getting injured. Hockenson also told reporters that McCarthy has “a championship mentality,” which is something you didn’t hear about the other quarterbacks that used to be under center in Minnesota.
This is important considering the first three weeks. Getting a big name would be fun for Vikings fans, but would require reps and resources. The possibility of using the running game to help McCarthy get his footing is also a possibility. Still, Kevin O’Connell isn’t likely to break out the full Michigan offense for three weeks until Addison returns.
But getting a fully healthy Hockenson could be the wild card in this equation. The two have already established chemistry and could be one of those factors that are displayed in September, making the offense better when Addison returns in October.
Vikings fans will have to wait an entire month to figure out how the entire offense shakes out. But it’s possible that Hockenson can be just as important to the passing attack and help Minnesota get through Addison’s absence.
