The temptation to rush star tight end T.J. Hockenson back onto the field gets even more tempting when watching him run at full speed.

Even coach Kevin O’Connell can acknowledge that Hockenson has looked pretty impressive over the past couple of weeks while rehabbing off to the side at TCO Performance Center.

“Yeah,” O’Connell said. “It looks like if there was defenders over there, he’d probably be over there getting open and catching the ball.”

Not that the Vikings are actually considering rushing Hockenson back onto the field. There’s been a plan in place for him pretty much from the moment he tore the ACL in his knee on Christmas Eve. Now isn’t the time to deviate from it.

“We like where he’s at,” O’Connell said. “Now, it’s just a matter of what folks a lot smarter than me think as far as what that timeline is from a responsible standpoint.”

Though he hasn’t been able to participate with his teammates in practice, Hockenson has made sure to make his presence felt elsewhere.

“He’s in every single meeting,” O’Connell said. “He has a voice in that room in our offensive installs as if he’s going to be participating in everything.”

That should help Hockenson hit the ground running whenever vice president of player health and performance Tyler Williams clears him for contact.

Thompson on the mend

After making the tough decision to waive cornerback NaJee Thompson with an injury designation, O’Connell seemed to indicate that the Vikings would like to keep him around, if possible. That will hinge on whether another team decides to claim Thompson off waivers.

“We wanted to give NaJee every possible chance to get himself to a place where we felt like he could go out there and do what he does,” O’Connell said. “He did everything we asked of him, and as we were leaning into hopefully seeing him this week, he dealt with some discomfort, swelling, and things like that.”

Asked if Thompson will need a procedure of some sort, O’Connell responded, “I’m not qualified to make that decision.”

The main thing is making sure Thompson is 100% before he gets back on the field.

“We want him to get healthy,” O’Connell said. “We will and he’ll be a good spot moving forward.”

Related Articles

Justin Jefferson speaks highly of depth Vikings have at receiver

Vikings sign former Gophers star running back Mo Ibrahim

Vikings edge rusher Jihad Ward could be the ultimate chess piece

Here are five Vikings players with something to prove as cutdown day looms

Vikings receiver Trishton Jackson might be a lock to make the team. Just don’t tell him that.