Vikings insider speculates T.J. Hockenson is staging a hold-in

It has now been more than two weeks since Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was a full participant in one of the team's practices. First, we were told Hockenson's lack of participation was due to an illness, and then the blame shifted to the tight end dealing with an ear infection that was messing up his equilibrium.

With Hockenson still not a full participant in practice as of Monday, some are starting to believe his current situation is more contract-related than anything else.

During an episode of SKOR North's "Minnesota Sports with Mackey & Judd" on Tuesday, KSTP's Darren Wolfson had the following to say about what he believes is currently going on with the Vikings and their top tight end.

"The optics suggest that this is a hold-in. Why he won't just acknowledge that? I don't know.

But the way he eluded [questions on Monday] leads me to believe that this absolutely has something to do with the lack of a contract extension."

Hockenson did take a few moments to speak with reporters after Monday's practice, and when asked if his limited participation in practice this summer has to do with his current contract, the tight end said, "no, that's not my focus."

Hockenson is currently in the final year of his contract with the Vikings, which will pay him more than $9.3 million in cash this season. With the five highest-paid tight ends in the NFL currently making around $15 million per year, Hockenson is likely going to want a deal that pays him at least $15 million per season, if not more.

After he was acquired from a trade with the Detroit Lions in the middle of last season, the 26-year-old tight end caught 70 passes for 648 yards and three touchdowns in 11 appearances with Minnesota (including the playoffs).

Many assumed the Vikings and Hockenson would have agreed to a contract extension by now. But clearly, that is something that still needs to be figured out.