EAGAN, Minn. — T.J. Hockenson enjoyed his first partial season in Purple — and so did the Vikings.
Full seasons with Minnesota are on the way after Hockenson agreed to terms on a new contract Thursday ahead of what was set to be his final year on his rookie contract.
The deal means “speculation season” regarding Hockenson’s future with the team can yield to the 2023 regular season in which he’s expected to play another large role in Minnesota’s passing game.
The Vikings team that traded for him on Nov. 1 and threw the football his direction nine times five days later (resulting in nine catches and 70 yards at Washington) envisioned him in the long-term plans and for plenty of good reasons.
After showing he could catch on fast against the Commanders, Hockenson totaled 60 receptions for 519 yards and three scores on 86 targets in 10 games (seven starts) with Minnesota. He played 90 percent or more of the Vikings offensive snaps in six games and at least 77 percent in nine contests. The lone exception was at Chicago in the regular-season finale when Minnesota limited action for starters.
Hockenson’s 26 receptions in his first four Vikings games set an NFL record for receptions by a tight end in his first four games with a team, and his 60 receptions over the final 10 weeks of 2022 trailed only Travis Kelce’s 63 at the position.
The native of Chariton, Iowa, turned in a prolific performance against the Giants in Week 16, catching 13 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
· were the most by an NFL tight end in a game in 2022.
· set a record for most catches by a Vikings tight end in any game.
· are tied for 13th all-time by a tight end since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
· are tied for fourth among all Vikings in a single game.
· are the most by a Vikings player in a game the team won.
It was one of three games with 100-plus receiving yards for Hockenson in 2022. He set a career-high with 179 for Detroit at Seattle in Week 4, becoming the NFL’s first tight end to post more than 175 yards, catch two touchdowns and score a 2-point conversion in one game.
He also caught 10 passes for 129 yards on 11 targets in Minnesota’s playoff loss to the Giants.
Hockenson was set to enter 2023 on a fifth-year option that was extended to his rookie contract by the Lions in April 2022. Detroit drafted him No. 8 overall out of Iowa in 2019. Hockenson began his pro career with 131 yards at Arizona, setting an NFL record for a tight end in his first career game.
A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2020 and 2023), Hockenson has played in 57 regular-season games during his NFL tenure, making 49 starts. He has tallied 2,587 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns on 246 receptions.
