MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson will make his season debut while newly acquired left tackle Cam Robinson will be active Sunday night after being traded to the Vikings earlier this week from Jacksonville.
The team also activated guard Dalton Risner, providing the Vikings with two additional bodies on the offensive line when they host the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night on KARE 11.
Hockenson's return comes as the Vikings and the offense look to get back on track following back-to-back losses. Since being traded in a rare inter-division trade back in 2022, Hockenson has been one of Minnesota's biggest weapons in the passing game. In his 25 games with Minnesota, Hockenson has caught 155 passes for 1,479 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the team with 95 receptions last season, and his 960 receiving yards were second only to star receiver Justin Jefferson (1,074).y
"I'm just excited to go out there and show all the work I've done and how good these (physical trainers) are that I've worked with," said Hockenson, who spent the first seven games of the season recovering from a torn ACL and MCL he suffered last December. "I can't give enough credit to the people that are here ... I'm just excited to go out there on Sunday and play ball."
In his absence this season, tight ends Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt have combined for just 21 catches for 165 yards and three touchdowns, go getting Hockenson back on the field will be a major boost to the passing game.
While Hockenson will instantly be inserted into the starting lineup, it's unclear if Robinson will do the same, simply because of his limited time this week to practice with his new team. The former second-round draft pick joined the Vikings Wednesday, and began practicing Thursday, so he may be a depth player on Sunday if he's not up to speed with the snap counts.
Robinson's addition comes after Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL during a game Oct. 24 against the Los Angeles Rams. David Quessenberry stepped in for Darrisaw to finish out the game, but with Robinson and Risner active, the team will have options at left tackle, including having starting left guard Blake Brandel swing out to left tackle while Risner takes over at left guard.
The Colts are tied for the 10th-fewest sacks (16) this season but did get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back last week after he sustained an ankle injury in Week 2. Buckner was a disruptor in his return, recording three tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits and one sack in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans. He'll be a handful this Sunday, especially for a Vikings offensive line that has struggled in the middle.