Reports: Wonnum’s season over, Hockenson’s outlook ‘not good’
Battered and bruised, the Minnesota Vikings are facing an uphill climb to reach the playoffs and the journey the rest of the season will likely be without star tight end T.J. Hockenson.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the outlook for Hockenson’s knee injury is “not good” and the Vikings are “bracing for damage” to be revealed in the results of an MRI.
Initial outlook is ‘not good’ on #Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson’s knee injury, per source. Team hoping to be surprised by today’s MRI but bracing for damage.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 25, 2023
Hockenson put together another Pro Bowl-type season with 95 catches for 960 yards and five TDs.
Hockenson, who has 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns, suffered the injury on a low hit to his legs in Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions. Without him, the Vikings will have to rely on tight ends Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse.
Hockenson wasn’t the only weapon to go down with an injury against Detroit. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, wide receiver Jordan Addison is considered week to week with a sprained ankle.
Jordan Addison is considered week-to-week with an ankle sprain, source said, pending further testing today. That info comes today. https://t.co/MkD2072Je8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 25, 2023
Meanwhile, edge rusher D.J Wonnum reportedly suffered a partially torn quad muscle and will miss the rest of the season.
#Vikings OLB DJ Wonnum, in the midst of a career year with 62 tackles and 8 sacks, suffered a partially torn quad, source said, an indication he's played his last down this season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 25, 2023
Coach Kevin O'Connell said it was a serious, adding: "You can see what DJ means to our team."
The Vikings will be shorthanded this coming Sunday night against the Packers. Minnesota has to win out and get help with the Rams or Seahawks losing once in order to clinch a playoff spot.
Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen. His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011. Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play. Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers. Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.