TJ Hockenson still sitting out: 'It sucks but it is what it is'

Are the Vikings planning to extend the star tight end or possibly wait and franchise tag him in 2024?

Tight end T.J. Hockenson remains a viewer while his teammates do anything in practice beyond stretching and walk-throughs. Is he still dealing with the effects of an ear infection or is he playing it safe while his agent works on a contract extension? Whatever the case, it's been nearly three weeks since he began sitting out 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills on Aug. 3. 

Asked Monday if his contract is keeping him out of team drills, Hockenson answered: "No, that's not my focus. My focus is to be out here with these guys on Sept. 9 or whatever it is. Be ready for September and be ready for game day on Sunday."

Are contract talks progressing?

"I don't really know. I keep that between [my agent] and the guys upstairs," said Hockenson, "so like I say, that's not really my focus. It'll play out. Not really what I'm focused on. Just focused on football right now and getting out here, being ready to go."

Hockenson did say his balance "has gotten better" since he was diagnosed with an ear infection earlier this month, but when asked if his ear is keeping him off the field he responded: "I'm going to leave that up to those guys, you know, [head coach Kevin O'Connell] and those guys. I'm just looking forward to being out here and really get with these guys."

Is he frustrated being stuck on the sidelines watching?

"It sucks but it is what it is. It's really just making me want to be out there more with the guys. I'll be ready to go in September and that's really when I need to be," he said. 

Purple Insider's Matthew Coller discussed the Hockenson situation in depth Monday night and wondered if the Vikings see something in tight end Josh Oliver that adds pause to any thought of extending Hockenson. 

"Maybe they look at it like they could franchise tag Hockenson if they want next year, or if they just just feel like they've got somebody else in Oliver, they could let him go, get the compensatory draft pick and then move on with somebody else as their tight end. I don't know, this is a complicated situation," said Coller. 

Oliver signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Vikings in the offseason. He widely regarded as one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL and Coller says Oliver has flashed with athleticism and an ability to make acrobatic catches in practice. 

Has Oliver changed minds about doling out big money to Hockenson? Whatever happens, Hockenson sounds like he'll be ready to go when the Vikings host the Bucs Sept. 10 in the season opener.