T.J. Hockenson's on the long road back from a serious season-ending knee injury.
Will he be healed up in time to take the long flight overseas for the Minnesota Vikings' Week 5 showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in London? Well, that remains to be seen, Hockenson said Wednesday on the NFL Schedule Release '24 show.
"They haven't really put a timeline on it," Hockenson said of his recovery from tearing his ACL and MCL in a Week 16 loss to the Detroit Lions. "We're just kinda taking it day by day, week by week, there's just so many variables that you can go through in this process. I'm doing really good right now. We're attacking each process. I'm attacking each one and it's been awesome, the progression has been incredible."
The timing of Hockenson's injuries doesn't bode well for him being good to go at the kickoff of the 2024 season, but making it back by Week 5 could be in the cards.
Even with a timetable currently unavailable, Hockenson, who hauled in 95 catches for 960 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games last season, is hopeful he'll be able to play in his first international game.
"Going overseas, expanding the league and the NFL and the fanbase, across, not just the nation," he said. "But the world is just super exciting for the Minnesota Vikings."
Hockenson should be back by Week 14, when the Vikings are set to host the Atlanta Falcons -- and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins' sixth season with Minnesota ended after eight games, due to a torn Achilles. He's on the comeback trail just like Hockenson, but for another squad.
"It's gonna be for sure weird to see Kirko in a Falcons jersey," Hockenson said.
Cousins' former TE is confident the veteran signal-caller will be back in prime form, though, regardless of the jersey he's wearing.
"He's one of those guys that's going to attack his rehab, as well," Hockenson said. "He's gonna come back and be the same player he was [before] he was hurt. It's gonna be, obviously a challenge to go up against him. But we're in purple now and he's gonna be on the other side, so we'll treat him as so."
