Key Vikings veterans face uncertain futures. Will injury-plagued stars and underperforming talents return as the team navigates cap challenges?
The Minnesota Vikings (9-8) head into the offseason with cap issues. With that, not every key player they had in 2025 is certain to return next season.
Among the potential losses are offensive linemen Ryan Kelly and Jason Hargrave, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones Sr. Kelly and Hargrave's health and longevity questions make their return uncertain, but Jones' lack of production is what some question in regard to whether or not he should return.
Perhaps the most well-known name of the four is Hockenson, a productive tight end and former pro bowler. His pro bowl days, however, may be over.
Max Dible of "Heavy" discussed the dilemma with bringing back Hockenson in 2026.
"Hockenson, who will play next season at 29 years old, represents the same cap value as a trade option. He has not been a Pro Bowler since 2022, but he did produce 95 catches for 960 receiving yards and five TDs in 2023.
Hockenson suffered a torn ACL near the end of that campaign and played just 10 games the following year. He was healthy this season, but poor offensive line play dictated Hockenson stay in and pass block at a higher rate than ever before in his career.
A string of subpar quarterbacks didn’t help his stat line, as Hockenson finished the campaign with 51 catches for 438 yards and three scores."
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) makes a catch against Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) during the second half at Lumen Field.Steven Bisig-Imagn ImagesDible does grant that Hockenson had to endure shaky quarterback play, not only from starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy, but from the instability of McCarthy's high rate of injury. Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also came in to play at the quarterback position over the course of the season. And whether or not catching footballs from different quarterbacks makes a big difference for a quarterback, inaccuracy certainly does.
Brosmer, like McCarthy, did not always make the right decision with where to go with the football. And, of course, Wentz did not set the world on fire at signal caller though some could make the case that he played better at the position than the other two.
The issue, however, is not whether or not Hockenson's lack of impact in 2025 was due to the quarterbacks he played with this season. The issue is that the quarterback situation is such that the tight end needs to be the impact maker for the quarterback. Hockenson did not adequately elevate McCarthy and the others enough to necessarily warrant a guaranteed spot back on the roster. At least, not while throwing salary cap caution to the wind.
Hockenson is one of a handful of veterans that may not play for Minnesota in 2025. The next few months will give more clarity to the direction the Vikings are going with their 2026 roster.