Lions trade TE T.J. Hockenson to Vikings

(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota Vikings have swung a big trade ahead of the league’s 3:00 p.m. (CT) Tuesday trade deadline.

The Vikings acquired tight end T.J. Hockenson from the division-rival Detroit Lions.

The Vikings sent a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 third-round pick to Detroit for Hockenson, a 2023 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick.

Hockenson, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is also under contract for next season. He has 186 catches for 2,068 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career.

Hockenson has 26 catches, and is currently fifth among tight ends in reception yards (395) and tied for fourth in touchdowns (3) this season.

His trade comes a day after Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain that could keep him sidelined for multiple weeks.

Minnesota is 6-1 on the season, 3.5 games ahead of both Green Bay and Chicago in the division. The Vikings will play at Washington this Sunday. It’ll be the first trip there for QB Kirk Cousins to face his former team since coming to Minnesota in 2018.