T.J. Hockenson had surgery Monday to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the Vikings announced.
Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has surgery; C.J. Ham added to Pro Bowl Games
After a 95-catch season, T.J. Hockenson missed the final two games after suffering the injury in a game against the Detroit Lions.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
January 30, 2024 at 6:27PM
![Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) went airborne picking up a first down over Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill (23) in the fourth quarter Saturday December ,16 ,2023 in,Cincinnati, OH. ] JERRY HOLT • jerry.holt@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/D5JIALJLY74CDJQWZLWUDSGDL4.jpg?&w=712)
The 26-year-old tight end tore the ACL and the medial collateral ligament in the knee after a hit from Lions safety Kerby Joseph in the Vikings’ Dec. 24 loss to Detroit at U.S. Bank Stadium. Surgery was delayed until the MCL, which did not require repair, could reach a stage of healing.
The surgery was led by Dr. Neal ElAttrache from the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, and the Vikings termed it successful in a news release. The team did not immediately provide a timetable for when Hockenson could return to the field, but given the fact training camp begins in less than six months, the tight end could begin camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list while he continues his rehab.
Hockenson played the final part of the season despite injured ribs and had a career-high 95 catches for 960 yards. He signed a four-year contract extension worth $66 million Aug. 31.
The former Iowa star was the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft by Detroit, which traded him to the Vikings in November 2022 for draft picks. The Lions used one of those picks, a second-rounder, to take Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta in the 2023 draft. LaPorta had 86 receptions as the Lions won the NFC North and later advanced to the NFC Championship Game.
C.J. Ham chosen for Pro Bowl Games
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham was added to the NFL Pro Bowl Games. He takes the spot of 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk after players from San Francisco and Kansas City were replaced because their teams are in the Super Bowl.
Ham also made the Pro Bowl following the 2019 season. He played in all 17 games last season and led the NFC fullbacks in overall offensive grade and pass block grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and his run block grade ranked second in the conference.
He’ll join teammates Danielle Hunter and Andrew DePaola in the Pro Bowl.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
