Vikings lose T.J. Hockenson to head injury on the second play in NOLA

The Minnesota Vikings suffered a significant setback on Sunday as starting tight end T.J. Hockenson left the game due to a head injury sustained on the second play of the matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Hockenson, who had been with the team since 2022, caught a short pass on the second play from scrimmage but landed hard on his head as he hit the ground.

He was immediately taken to the sideline's blue medical tent for evaluation and was declared unable to continue after a brief assessment. Upon returning to the locker room for a more thorough examination, Hockenson was ruled out for the rest of the game. Without Hockenson and fellow tight end Josh Oliver, Minnesota's top two tight ends are now Ben Yurosek and Gavin Bartholomew, both second-year players.

Yurosek had spent the first four weeks on the injured reserve list before being activated for Sunday's game. Hockenson had been in impressive form prior to the injury, catching 13 passes for 119 yards and helping Minnesota secure their fourth victory of the season. With the Vikings currently holding a bye week, Hockenson and the injured players have two weeks to recover and prepare for their next game against the Saints.