T.J. Hockenson is one of multiple members of the Minnesota Vikings who have uncertainty surrounding their future with the team this offseason. However, that uncertainty got a little more certain recently.
On Friday, SKOR North's Thor Nystrom shared on his "Thor Talks Purple" podcast that while being in attendance for this week's NFL Scouting Combine, he was told that the Vikings reportedly plan to retain Hockenson for the 2026 season.
Nystrom added that he wasn't told if Minnesota has approached Hockenson about a pay cut for the 2026 campaign or anything like that, just that the team is planning to keep him around for at least one more year.
T.J. Hockenson to reportedly remain with Minnesota Vikings for the 2026 season
Despite an underwhelming performance in 2025, Hockenson remaining with the Vikings for another season is still significant. At the very least, it gives Minnesota one less thing to worry about this offseason as they attempt to adjust their roster with limited cap space.
In 15 games with the Vikings last season, the 28-year-old tight end caught 51 passes for 438 yards and three touchdowns. Hockenson's average of just 29.2 receiving yards per game was the lowest he's ever had in a single season since entering the NFL in 2019.
It was a disappointing year for the veteran tight end. No one is going to argue against that. But was Hockenson's decrease in production all his own fault? Absolutely not.
After averaging 7.9 targets per game in his first three seasons with Minnesota, inexperience and inconsistency at the quarterback position for the Vikings in 2025 resulted in that average dropping all the way to just 4.4 targets per matchup.
If Hockenson was able to continue with 7.9 targets per game last season, his production would've looked so much better. Based on his catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns per target in 2025, 7.9 targets per contest likely would've left him with final numbers that were close to 92 catches, 791 yards, and five touchdowns.
The Vikings know some of Hockenson's dip in production last year was out of his control, which is one of the many reasons why they are bringing him back for another season.
If Minnesota is able to get more consistent quarterback play in the 2026 campaign, there's a good chance that the veteran tight end will get back to putting up numbers that are closer to what fans have become accustomed to seeing from him since he joined the team in 2022.