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Vikings' TJ Hockenson has career-year cut short after devastating knee injury

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that star tight end T.J. Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL on Sunday, ending the best season of his career.

The Minnesota Vikings got hit with a case of insult to injury — or in this scenario, injury to insult.

Minnesota’s playoff hopes took a hit over the weekend with their 30-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, who clinched their first NFC North title since 1993.

But during the game, tight end T.J. Hockenson suffered a knee injury and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game — now we know why.

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The Vikings announced Tuesday that Hockenson had suffered a torn ACL and MCL on a tackle.

In the beginning of the third quarter, Hockenson caught a ball over the middle, and Kirby Joseph hit him low. Hockenson quickly stood up but limped off the field, and was ruled out shortly after.

Hockenson had already set career-highs with 960 receiving yards on 95 receptions.

Earlier this year, he inked an extension worth $68.5 million. His $42.5 million was the most ever guaranteed to a tight end.

Not only does the injury further dampen the Vikings’ hopes for playing football in mid-January, but it also has implications on next season, considering it could be a year-long recovery. Week 1 next year would be less than nine months since the injury.

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Hockenson was well on his way to becoming just the ninth right end in NFL history with 100+ catches in a season.

Hockenson also leads the Vikings in receptions and receiving yards, party due to Justin Jefferson missing ample time with a hamstring injury. But Hockenson still filled in quite nicely, all but ensuring Minnesota’s trade for him was worth it.

The Vikings sent a 2023 second- and 2024 third-rounder in order to get Hockenson. Detroit’s end of the deal as worked out just fine though, as Sam LaPorta has put up one of the best seasons for a rookie tight end ever.

The Vikings are the eighth seed in the NFC with their 7-8 record. They face the Green Bay Packers and Lions to wrap up their season, and losing either of those games certainly means bad news.

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