The Vikings’ tight end room is suddenly on shaky ground, and T.J. Hockenson’s suspected concussion against the Saints only made the problem more urgent.
Minnesota already had a thin group at the position. Josh Oliver has been on injured reserve with what’s described as a potentially season-ending biceps tear, leaving the Vikings without the blocking specialist and occasional passing-game threat they had planned to lean on. When Hockenson exited, Kevin O’Connell was left with Gavin Bartholomew and Ben Yurosek against New Orleans - Bartholomew working as the receiving tight end, Yurosek handling more of the blocking duties.
There haven’t been any updates on Hockenson’s condition as of Thursday morning, and with the bye week giving the team extra time, the last thing Minnesota wants is for the tight end issues to linger. If O’Connell isn’t confident Bartholomew and Yurosek can carry the load while Hockenson is out, the Vikings may need outside help.
One name that fits the “do-a-little-bit-of-everything” mold is Taysom Hill. At 36, he’s not the kind of long-term solution Minnesota would be chasing, but he does bring a rare mix of versatility.
During his time with the Saints, he filled roles at tight end, quarterback, receiver and on special teams. The Vikings would be looking for him to run routes and make plays as a receiver, something he has done across nine NFL seasons.
His career line includes 110 catches for 1,034 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with 489 rushing attempts for 2,551 yards and 34 scores. Even so, his age and unusual skill set could push Minnesota toward a more traditional tight end.
Will Dissly is that more conventional option. He’s six years younger than Hill and has eight NFL seasons under his belt, including the last two with the Chargers.
In 24 games there, he caught 61 passes for 578 yards and two touchdowns. Dissly looks closer to what the Vikings lost with Hockenson: a steady tight end who can handle the full job.
He has caught about 80% of his targets and could give starting Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray a dependable outlet if Hockenson can’t go. At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, he also brings real value as a blocker, with Pro Football Focus giving him run-block and pass-block grades of 64.1 and 74.3 last season.
Another route would be a familiar face. Tyler Conklin was drafted 157th overall in 2018 and spent his first four seasons with the Vikings before moving on to the Jets, Chargers and Lions.
He’s now a free agent in 2026, and his market may be manageable after earning a three-year, $21 million deal from the Jets earlier in his career and then playing last season on a one-year, $1.3 million contract with Detroit. A return to Minnesota could make sense as a low-cost depth move, especially if the Vikings want someone who can be stashed on the practice squad and elevated if needed.
He could also help steady Bartholomew and Yurosek without blocking their development.
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One name that has come up in the conversation is Tampa Bay veteran guard Ben Bredeson, whose experience and ability to move around the line make him a logical fit for a team looking for stability. Nothing has been finalized, and any deal would come down to draft capital and contract considerations, but the fact that Minnesota is even exploring that kind of option says plenty about how urgent the line situation has become. [Read more 🡒]