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Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson out in 2nd half vs. Lions with apparent right knee injury

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/24/23•

AndrewEdGraham

TJ Hockenson Vikings
Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is out for the rest of the game versus the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He suffered an apparent injury to his right knee on the opening drive of the third quarter.

After catching a checkdown from quarterback Nick Mullens, Hockenson turned upfield and was cut down at the knees by a defender. He got up and immediately began holding his right knee area before walking off to the bench under his own power.

Hockenson was shown on the bench getting medical attention from trainers before the FOX broadcast shortly updated his status as being out for the game.

The injury to Hockenson leaves the Vikings’ pass-catching unit notably shorthanded as rookie wideout Jordan Addison was ruled out with an ankle injury that he sustained late in the first half.

Addison apparently got injured chasing down a defender after a turnover

The Vikings will be down a key pass catcher for the remainder of a Christmas Eve matchup with the Detroit Lions as Addison is out for the remainder of the game. The Vikings announced Addison would be out for the rest of the game at the start of the second half.

Addison apparently injured his ankle late in the first half. He came off the field and went to the injury tent after Mullens threw a deep interception. Addison seemed to injure himself by colliding with a teammate while chasing down safety Kerby Joseph following the interception.

Shortly after he was sidelined, the broadcast noted he was being listed as questionable to return with an ankle injury. He reportedly then walked to the locker room shortly before the game went to halftime, going ahead of the team.

When Addison left the game, he had a single catch for two yards.

The Vikings needed Justin Jefferson to step up and he did

Justin Jefferson returned to the Minnesota Vikings lineup for Week 16’s matchup vs. the Detroit Lions — and let his presence be known with a spectacular touchdown catch in the first half.

With just over 30 seconds left before halftime, Mullens hit Jefferson in the right side of the end zone for a nifty touchdown over a Detroit defender. Jefferson finished his first two quarters back on the field with four receptions for 85 yards and the aforementioned score.

It brought the score to within three as the Vikings and Lions went to halftime.