As the Minnesota Vikings continue to battle through a difficult season, things could soon change with franchise quarterback JJ McCarthy‘s return. Struggling at the bottom of the NFC North, the Vikings have seen veteran Carson Wentz take the reins. Off the field, the Vikings have also dealt with issues surrounding possible friction among the side’s offense, especially with trade rumors surrounding star TE TJ Hockenson.

So, during the press conference ahead of the SNF clash against the Detroit Lions, Hockenson was asked about his reaction to McCarthy being back in first-team practice. The 28-year-old TE was excited about the young QB’s return and shared how McCarthy “brings juice”. Hockenson said, “It’s always great having Nine in the huddle. He brings juice and obviously a standard. So it’s a lot of fun having him out here taking all the reps and controlling the offense.”

JJ McCarthy’s NFL career has been a tragic tale as the youngster has missed 23 of his first 25 games in the NFL. The former Michigan Wolverines QB suffered a meniscus injury in a practice before the start of the 2024-25 season. This injury meant McCarthy missed the entirety of his rookie year. As he recovered and returned as QB1 in the next season, he had a blistering debut against the Chicago Bears.

He carried Minnesota from an 11-point 4th quarter deficit by throwing two touchdowns and running the third to win 27–24. But this good fortune was short-lived as McCarthy suffered a sprained ankle in the second game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons. Since then, he has been recovering and is slated to return in week 9.

The Vikings will be up for a massive challenge as they take on the Detroit Lions. But this matchup could also be crucial for the likes of TJ Hockenson, who has been the subject of intense trade speculation, as reported by The Sporting News. As the November 4 trade deadline approaches, several teams are eyeing a veteran who has had an inconsistent season so far.

Will the Minnesota Vikings trade TJ Hockenson?

Through the seven games of the 2025 season, TJ Hockenson has recorded 27 passes for 222 yards and 1 touchdown. The two-time Pro Bowler has been highly inefficient this season. TJ Hockenson has played primarily as a short-yardage security blanket, rather than utilizing his dynamic playmaking approach. This drop in his form may have triggered rumors about his possible departure from the team.

Franchises like the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of the 28-year-old veteran. The Broncos are slated to offer a sixth-round pick, whereas there are no reports about a specific trade package from Los Angeles. The Sporting News journalist, Vinnie Iyer, also backs a Hockenson trade to the Rams as he wrote, “given Hockenson keeps not producing as a key target for Kevin O’Connell, but could turn out to be the missing third option in the adjacent Rams offense.”

Further, looking at TJ Hockenson’s four-year deal worth $66 million could also be another reason for a possible trade. TJ’s contract will lead to a massive cap hit over the three years, which equates to $21.3 m – 2026, 2027 – $23.3 m, and $1.7 m of dead money in 2029. This would allow the Vikings to build around JJ McCarthy as they would have ample cap space to make big moves down the line.