Vikings News: Justin Jefferson, Mike Zimmer, T.J. Hockenson, Cam Bynum

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson is playing at a record-breaking pace

After suffering a rib injury during last week's win over the Atlanta Falcons, Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson was listed as questionable heading into Sunday's matchup against the Saints.

Hockenson ended up playing on Sunday, and Minnesota was certainly glad he did. The Vikings' top tight end wound up finishing the contest with 11 catches for 134 yards and one touchdown.

With his performance on Sunday, Hockenson has now hauled in a total of 71 passes in Minnesota's 10 games this season. His 71 catches are easily the most ever by a Vikings tight end during the team's first 10 matchups of a season, with Joe Senser (1981) and Jermaine Wiggins (2005) both tied for the second-most with 49 catches in the first 10 games of their respective seasons.

Hockenson's 71 catches are not only the most in Vikings history by a tight end in the team's first 10 games of a season, but they are the third-most in NFL history by a tight end after the first 10 matchups in a season.

Zach Ertz (77 in 2018) and Jason Witten (73 in 2012) are the only two tight ends in league history to have more receptions than Hockenson in the first 10 games of a season.

So, after a bit of a slow start to the 2023 campaign, Hockenson has certainly lived up to the expectations that came with the big contract extension Minnesota gave him earlier this year.