T.J. Hockenson — Week 1: Sixteen Yards on Third and Eight
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 14
Hockenson caught four of five targets for thirty-six yards, converted two of three third downs, and scored the sixteen-yard touchdown on third and eight from the Green Bay sixteen with two eleven left in the third quarter that cut a 22–10 deficit to five. One target came from Kyler Murray and four from Carson Wentz, in a 39–22 win over the Packers.
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Two 11 left in the third quarter, third and eight at the Green Bay 16, Minnesota down 22 to 10. Carson Wentz threw deep middle to T.J. Hockenson for 16 yards and a touchdown. The play was worth +3.1 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 9.7 points of win probability, the chance of winning after the play against before it; by win probability, among Vikings pass plays only Justin Jefferson's 39-yard touchdown moved the number further. 22 to 17, and Minnesota did not trail by more than five again.
The line: five targets, four catches, 36 yards, one touchdown, two first downs, +3.2 expected points on the targets. Three of the five were third downs and two converted. The one that did not was Kyler Murray's: third and 17 at the Minnesota 38, eight 43 left in the first, short right for seven, and a punt. The other conversion was Wentz's, third and six at the Green Bay 47 with two 37 left in the half, down 12 to three, short middle for eight to the 39; Jefferson caught the 39-yard touchdown on the next snap. In between, five yards short middle on second and 13 from the Minnesota 12 at four 14 of the second quarter. The one incompletion came on the touchdown drive, first and 10 at the Green Bay 18 with two 58 left, short left. Three targets before halftime for three catches and 20 yards; two after for one catch and 16.
Five targets was second on the team, behind nine to Jefferson and ahead of four to Josh Oliver, two to Jordan Addison, and one each to Aaron Jones, DeeJay Dallas and Jauan Jennings. The passer split matters here: one target from Murray in the five pass plays before he left, four from Wentz in the 22 after. Minnesota threw 17 pass plays before halftime and 10 after, and the passing game gained a hundred 51 yards; Hockenson's 36 were second to Jefferson's 92.
Back in June the preview called Hockenson a watchlist: the 20-second tight end at pick one 52, two seasons since the knee that said five-eight a game, the stickiest volume profile at the position, a contract-year audition, and his September target share against a 15.6-percent baseline and which quarterback won the job as the things to watch. Sunday the quarterback answer changed inside the first quarter, and the share was five targets on 27 pass plays, about 19 percent, with a touchdown on the most important of them. One game is one game, and one from a quarterback who started the day as the backup is a smaller one than that. Minnesota is at the Bears on Sunday the twentieth.
_Data via nflverse._
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