Easing Hock back in...

Tight end T.J. Hockenson quickly returned to a featured role in the Vikings passing attack, catching a team-high eight passes for 72 yards last week in Jacksonville, but he’s played fewer than 50% of the snaps in each of his two games since returning from last year’s knee injury.

Hockenson said Thursday there’s no lingering concern about his surgically repaired right knee and that he has not been caught off guard by a rotational role behind tight end Josh Oliver. Coaches have talked about easing Hockenson back into the mix after his 10-month layover between games.

“It’s kind of exactly what I thought would happen at the beginning,” said Hockenson, who played 45% of the snaps against the Colts and 46% against the Jaguars. “It’s just trying to use all of us with the tight ends we have. We have a really talented room.”

Oliver has been the primary run-blocking tight end. He has also flashed his receiving chops with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown over the past two games, including a one-handed grab against the Jaguars that had to be secured with a challenge by coach Kevin O’Connell.

“Josh is playing phenomenal right now,” Hockenson said. “He can move anybody on the defensive line. You saw his one-handed catch last week. The guy can ball. We just don’t want to limit snaps in that way and make sure all of us are fresh. ... 

Rotations and stuff like that are how you get through a full season.”

Source: Startribune