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Minnesota Vikings
TE T.J. Hockenson | David Berding/GettyImages
By Anthony Miller | Sep 24,
2025
For the modern-day tight end, it has almost become more
important to be a great pass catcher than a blocker. Some players, like
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, have the whole package.
Hockenson has been great this season when it comes to
being a receiving tight end, recording nine receptions for 76 yards and one
touchdown. Pro Football Focus has graded him as the second-best tight
end in the NFL out of 28, with an overall grade of 77.3. His receiving
grade is 72.7, which is good for fifth.
Everyone knows
the kind of impact he can make in the passing game, especially with a
first-time starting quarterback in J.J. McCarthy and first-year Viking, Carson
Wentz, playing the position. Tight ends can be seen as security blankets, but
there's another aspect to his game that is just as good, if not better.
Minnesota Vikings TE T.J.
Hockenson has been elite as a blocker this season
During the
Vikings' media availability on Tuesday, Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was asked
about his thoughts on Hockenson as a blocker. Phillips could not stop gushing
over the tight end for his selfishness as a teammate.
"T.J.'s been phenomenal in the
run game. It's one of those things where you're trying to get your best
players the football, and it was nice to see him get some catches in that game.
You kind of talk
to guys like 'This will be a good play for you. We're working on this.' His attitude about the whole
thing is, 'Hey, I just want to win and I'll do anything it takes for us to win
football games.' That's the kind of player he is."
This was evident
with Hockenson's impact in the running game in last week's 48-10
win over the Cincinnati Bengals, as Phillips praised Hockenson for what he does on outside
zone runs. The Vikings' offensive coordinator pointed out Hockenson's ability
to go block cornerbacks and stick on them to break out big runs.
Minnesota had
success on the ground against Cincinnati as they rushed 31 times for 169 yards
and two touchdowns. The team averaged 5.5 yards per carry, with a lot of those
runs coming on the outside off the edge of the tackle.
It's rare in
today's game to find a tight end that can do it all, and after all the
offseason chatter and his invisible act through the first two games
with Hockenson, he's more than proven his worth on the team. He could start
getting back to a Pro Bowl-caliber season that Vikings fans expected from him.
https://thevikingage.com/minnesota-vikings-say-quiet-part-out-loud-tj-hockenson-skillset
