Update on T.J. Hockenson's Recovery and Vikings Strategy

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00:00Now back to the Kevin O'Connell. We've been waiting hand and breath for the thoughts on

00:10what to do about TJ Hawkinson for the Vikings. Here we go.

00:14You referenced TJ Hawkinson earlier. Where is he at in his recovery?

00:21Every time I see him working on the side field, it becomes awfully tempting to corner Tyler

00:28Williams somewhere in the building and demand answers on when we'll be able to start implementing

00:36him maybe off the PUP and get him a little bit of work, whether it's just simply individual,

00:42some routes on Eric, start getting him some timing with our quarterbacks.

00:46But where he's at, albeit very well ahead of maybe where some of the medical folks thought

00:53he would be, there is an injury there that a timeline exists.

00:56And we're going to try to stay true to that while also giving him ops to push to maybe

01:01shrink that timeline a little bit.

01:03Even in a place where you can start thinking about week one for him?

01:06No, not yet.

01:07Whether it's yes or no?

01:08No, I just, I don't think it would be responsible at this point with where he's at in his rehab

01:14to start, even me personally, thinking about are we going to have him, are we not?

01:19Want him focusing on what he can control, which is what he's done an unbelievable job

01:23of so far, which is his daily mission of just attacking this thing one day at a time.

01:28Here's an idea, Cam, throw the ball to Justin Jefferson and not worry about the guy that's

01:32not ready to play yet.

01:34No, I love Justin Jefferson, but I think TJ Hawkinson is going to be really, really important,

01:38Scott.

01:39I know we have a different opinion about the Vikings.

01:41I actually think they can maybe win seven or eight games.

01:44I think that whole division will be separated by like one game.

01:47Like I think everybody's very, very equal.

01:49The Vikings could have some growing pains.

01:50I think O'Connell's a good coach though.

01:52And I think they'll grind in some games.

01:53They do have some really talented skill position players.

01:56So I'm not as sour on the Vikings as some.

01:59Yeah, I'm not ready to get excited about Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy as a rookie, to be

02:06honest with you.

02:07And we'll see what they're made of in short order.