Former Lions Tight End T.J. Hockenson Suffers ACL, MCL Tear

T.J. Hockenson suffered season-ending injury in Week 16 tilt with Lions.

The Detroit Lions had plenty to celebrate after clinching the NFC North title Sunday. 

Meanwhile, their opponent that day, the Minnesota Vikings, did not. 

Not only did Minnesota drop the pivotal Week 16 contest to its division rival and fall out of the NFC playoffs with the loss. But, it also lost its star tight end T.J. Hockenson for the remainder of the season.

Hockenson left the Christmas Eve affair in the third quarter with a knee injury, after being upended by Lions safety Kerby Joseph. 

It looked brutal from the jump for the former Iowa tight end. And, on Tuesday, the Vikings’ worst fears were realized: Hockenson was declared out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL. 

Because of the severity of the injury, the fifth-year pro could potentially start the 2024 campaign on the physically unable to perform list.

Prior to the injury, Hockenson, who spent the first three-and-a-half seasons of his career in Detroit, was enjoying a career-best season. He had compiled career-high marks in catches (95), yards (960), yards per game (64.0) and catch percentage (74.8 percent). 

Additionally, at the conclusion of Week 16, he ranked second among all tight ends in catches and third in yards. 

After Claiming Division, Lions 'Fighting' for No. 2 Seed

Meanwhile, he earned the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade of his career for his efforts in 2023 (78.8). His previous high came in 2020 when he was a member of the Lions and recorded a 75.5 mark.

In the Week 16 tilt, Minnesota also lost pass-rusher D.J. Wonnum to a season-ending ailment. Wonnum suffered a torn quad tendon early in the fourth quarter against Detroit. 

“(I'm) crushed for both of those guys,” Vikings head man Kevin O'Connell told reporters Tuesday. “Two of our most impactful players. Leaders on our team. Kind of set the standard of what we want as Minnesota Vikings, in every aspect of who they are as men and teammates and players on the grass. Two guys that will be difficult to overcome their loss. But, we're gonna have to have guys step up, and hopefully still have those guys involved and around our team. Because they are, like I said, leaders and very, very important to our locker room.”

Hockenson, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 draft, produced 186 catches for 2,068 yards and 15 touchdowns in 47 games in Detroit.