EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings plan to open tight end T.J. Hockenson's 21-day practice window this Friday, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell announced Wednesday.
Hockenson opened the season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list as he was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered on Dec. 24 against the Lions. Veteran guard Dalton Risner is eligible to have his window opened this week, but that is not likely to happen, O'Connell said.
The Vikings are scheduled to fly to the United Kingdom after Thursday's practice, so Hockenson's first day of action will be an international affair.
"Want to get his window opened up and get him going here," O'Connell said. "And then, more than likely, we're going to hold off on Dalton, and I'll circle back with you guys until after the bye."
The timing is interesting, given Minnesota (4-0) is scheduled to face the New York Jets (2-2) at 2:30 p.m. in London/8:30 a.m. (CT) Sunday before having its Week 6 bye.
O'Connell was asked about the selection of Friday, and O'Connell explained Minnesota wanted to open the window with having a game against Detroit on Oct. 20 in Week 7 and at the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 24 in Week 8.
"Friday gives us 21 days, and 21 days from then gives us the bye weekend, two football games with us playing on Thursday, the second week after the bye," O'Connell said. "So that gives us some flexibility at 20 days to have him either ready to go, see where he's at and his availability for the Lions game, and then, like I said, we have the flexibility for the following [week].
"He's done a great job. He feels great, but we've got to get him acclimated back to football, so that's kind of the plan," O'Connell added. "I probably won't be giving many daily updates on the 'when,' as far as his game-day activation, but it's just going to be great to have him back on the grass with the guys. I know he's been really looking forward to it."
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of January 14, 2024.

3 WR Jordan Addison

3 WR Jordan Addison

RB Cam Akers

RB Cam Akers

6 LB Brian Asamoah II

6 LB Brian Asamoah II

56 C Garrett Bradbury

56 C Garrett Bradbury

64 G Blake Brandel

64 G Blake Brandel

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

90 DL Jonathan Bullard

24 S Camryn Bynum

24 S Camryn Bynum

51 LB Blake Cashman

51 LB Blake Cashman

32 RB Ty Chandler

32 RB Ty Chandler

14 QB Sam Darnold

QB Sam Darnold

42 LS Andrew DePaola

42 LS Andrew DePaola

69 C/G Dan Feeney

69 C Dan Feeney

2 CB Stephon Gilmore

2 CB Stephon Gilmore

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

58 OLB Jonathan Greenard

1 CB Shaq Griffin

1 CB Shaq Griffin

54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

54 LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

30 FB C.J. Ham

30 FB C.J. Ham

87 TE TJ Hockenson

87 TE T.J. Hockenson

67 G Ed Ingram

67 G Ed Ingram

26 S Theo Jackson

26 S Theo Jackson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

18 WR Justin Jefferson

33 RB Aaron Jones Sr.

33 RB Aaron Jones

13 QB Daniel Jones

13 QB Daniel Jones

91 OLB Pat Jones II

91 OLB Pat Jones II

65 OL Michael Jurgens

65 G Michael Jurgens

29 CB Dwight McGlothern

29 CB Dwight McGlothern

44 S Josh Metellus

44 S Joshua Metellus

23 CB Fabian Moreau

23 CB Fabian Moreau

12 QB Nick Mullens

12 QB Nick Mullens

86 TE Johnny Mundt

86 TE Johnny Mundt

7 CB Byron Murphy

7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.

83 WR Jalen Nailor

83 WR Jalen Nailor

75 T Brian O'Neill

75 T Brian O'Neill

84 TE Josh Oliver

84 TE Josh Oliver

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

0 LB Ivan Pace Jr.

57 DL Harrison Phillips

97 DL Harrison Phillips

4 WR Brandon Powell

4 WR Brandon Powell

76 T David Quessenberry

76 T David Quessenberry

61 DL Jalen Redmond

61 DL Jalen Redmond

16 K Will Reichard

16 K Will Reichard

98 OLB Bo Richter

98 OLB Bo Richter

66 G Dalton Risner

66 G Dalton Risner

74 T Cam Robinson

74 T Cam Robinson

50 DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

DL Levi Drake Rodriguez

78 T Walter Rouse

78 T Walter Rouse

11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

11 WR Trent Sherfield Sr.

22 S Harrison Smith

22 S Harrison Smith

99 DL Jerry Tillery

99 DL Jerry Tillery

15 OLB Dallas Turner

15 OLB Dallas Turner

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

43 OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

20 S Jay Ward

20 S Jay Ward

52 OLB Jihad Ward

52 OLB Jihad Ward

17 P Ryan Wright

17 P Ryan Wright
The Vikings rostered Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse on their initial 53-man roster. Muse is recovering from a hand injury in Week 2 that led to his placement on short-term Injured Reserve. The Vikings have elevated Robert Tonyan from their practice squad the past two weeks.
Hockenson has been working on a side field, running routes against air for several weeks.
Minnesota will be to able evaluate how Hockenson responds to full practices during the 21-day window without him counting against the maximum of 53 rostered players. He can be activated at any point during the window, but only with a corresponding roster reduction. At the end of the window, he must be activated or placed on season-ending Injured Reserve.
Check out the Vikings 2024 Schedule.