Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Issues Blunt Words to T.J. Hockenson
From a receiving standpoint, it’s been a disappointing 2025 NFL season for Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson. Additionally, the veteran pass catcher has yet to have a game in which he records over 50 receiving yards, and he has only one touchdown.
Hockenson’s best game of the season came in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals, in which he recorded 49 receiving yards and one touchdown. Nonetheless, he has yet to have a better performance than that contest early in the campaign.
“There are defensive players on every defense we play and have played this season that can be schematical problems because there’s very little scheme to limit their impact on the game,” O’Connell told reporters on October 31. “Sometimes it requires the tight ends to be selfless. T.J.’s made some big-time plays for us in moments this year, even off of helping on the edge a little bit, which is a pretty unique trait to him.
“Clearly, between T.J. and our receiving core, being some of the most impactful players on our whole team, we want to get those guys involved in the game, get them doing the things that they do well. For T.J., I would put a lot of things he does well ahead of helping on the edges. It’s kind of a necessary thing when certain games and situations happen, but there’s no question we want him to be heavily involved in the game.”
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Gets Vote of Confidence
Furthermore, the Vikings are expected to have J.J. McCarthy under center for the Week 9 game against the Lions. As a result, the second-year quarterback must take charge and have Hockenson be one of the focal points of the team’s offense.
“Looks good,“ Jefferson told reporters. “Just going through the plays, going through the motions, dialing up the connection, and, of course, expanding the relationship that we have out there on the field. So it’s been great. I feel like he has the confidence to go out there and do what we expect him to do.
“It’s just all about having that energy and thinking about one play at a time—not thinking about the big play, making the best play of the game, or being perfect throughout the game. It’s just all about taking one play at a time, leaning on everybody in the offense to go to work, and just lead us. And that’s pretty much the main message to him.”
Is J.J. McCarthy Ready to Run With Vikings’ QB Job?
Along with Jefferson’s remarks about the Michigan product’s return, O’Connell also offered his perspective on McCarthy’s current mindset.
“J.J. is in a good spot,” O’Connell told KFAN’s Paul Allen. “He had some really good work [on October 27] and should get a full week of preparation. He finally feels truly ready to go be himself—not just in his ability to function at the position, but also in the things J.J.
“McCarthy can bring to our offense: his mobility and his ability to protect himself, which comes from playing with great timing and rhythm from the pocket. He also has the ability to create and do some things off the schedule of the play.”
Dan Campbell had the most predictable response to Aidan Hutchinson's huge extension
Dan Campbell has a very unique way of communicating and speaking with just about anyone. We saw it in
Well, Campbell is also very known for going hard for his players, especially those who embody the Lions' spirit of overcoming adversity. Aidan Hutchinson has done just that, rebounding from his broken leg in 2024 to come back as a major force for the teams' defense. His monstrous extension, signed on Wednesday, is a huge acknowledgement of that.
Campbell had nothing but wonderful things to add about the extension, and it's hard not to read this message - shared by SI's Albert Breer - without reading it in Campbell's exact, passionate cadence.
Campbell offers on-brand response to Hutchinson's extension
Hutchinson has been "complete" as Campbell states to Breer here. He's got six sacks, which is at a slightly lower pace than we saw him working at in 2024 prior to his broken leg. But, what's stood out for Hutchinson so far this year is his proficiency at punchouts. He's forced four fumbles already this season, which is tied for first place in the NFL.
Those turnovers and potential turnovers generated by Hutchinson help to cover up the injuries that have completely bogged down the Lions' secondary. While the "Legion of Whom" have stepped up in a big way as the team awaits the return of Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold, and D.J. Reed, it helps that Hutchinson is up front and ready to be a disruptor before the ball gets in the air.
Hutchinson has a long road ahead to be considered a top contender for the Defensive Player of the Year honor for this season. Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons is leading that pack, followed closely by the ever-explosive Myles Garrett. Hutchinson still has a shot, though. And, maybe his extension will provide even more pop to his game than already existent.
With the return of Alim McNeill to the defensive line, it's even more likely that Hutchinson can focus on piling up on sacks this season. The attention is no longer solely on him, if you're an offensive lineman, and that bodes well for his ability to get to double-digit sacks soon.
