Once veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins went down with a season-ending Achilles heel tear last year, the Minnesota Vikings were headed in another direction, as the team knew before the veteran went down that they’d probably bring in a rookie quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft if able to.
Fortunately for Minnesota, the franchise was able to get their hands on University of Michigan star quarterback JJ McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the draft, bringing in Cousins’ successor after he chose to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in NFL free agency this offseason.
With the Vikings starting over with McCarthy while also bringing in veteran quarterback Sam Darnold, the future is uncertain in Minnesota as there’s no telling whether a high level of football will be played during the 2024 campaign.
Although the future is uncertain at quarterback and basically overall, the team was able to secure superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s future with a lucrative long-term deal, which was the team’s top priority.
As training camp gets underway for the Vikings, the team has placed two players on the PUP list and one player on the non-football injury list, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.
The #Vikings have placed …
— TE T.J. Hockenson (ACL & MCL rehab) on the PUP list
— CB NaJee Thompson on the PUP list
— RB DeWayne McBride on the non-football injury list— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 22, 2024
Obviously, T.J. Hockenson is the primary concern here, as he is one of the most talented tight ends in the game and a vital part of the Vikings offense.
Hockenson played in 15 games for the Vikings last season, catching a career-high 95 passes for 960 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
