Ex-Lions TE TJ Hockenson Takes a Sly Dig At Former Franchise After Million Dollar Trade To Minnesota Vikings: “First Time I’ve Been Able To Say That”

Former Detroit Lions tight end TJ Hockenson has made a trade deadline move on Tuesday to the Minnesota Vikings. Certainly, he has gone from the bottom of the table to the top of the table in a matter of days.

Notably, Hockenson stayed in the NFC North division and moved to the Vikings, who won five games in a row. After changing his team, Hockenon appeared to take a dig at his former team, the Lions, who lost five games on the trot.

TJ Hockenson takes a dig at his former team, the Lions

After making the move, the 25-year-old tight end said, “That’s really what we’re here to do is go somewhere and win some games… That’s kind of the first time I’ve been able to say that.”

This Sunday, Hockenson will make his debut for the Vikings against the Washington Commanders. Although he feels very happy about the move, he is ready to work to reach new heights with the Vikings. “It’s one thing to be able to see it on paper and say, ‘OK, oh, yeah, I got it,’ but then you hear it and you have to mentally decipher everything. It’s a different story… So it’s definitely a process, and I’m starting,” he further said.

Speaking about becoming a new part of the team, Hockenson said, “I’m just excited to have a piece in this puzzle. A lot of good guys around here. This facility is beautiful, so I’m just excited to be here, man… There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

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It is worth noting that the Lions drafted Hockenson in the 2019 draft as an 8th overall pick. While playing for the Detroit team, he did not play to his full potential. Moreover, he always finished last with the Lions. His best season came in 2020, when he became a Pro Bowler with 67 receptions, 723 yards and six touchdowns. However, he did not improve after that season and neither did the Lions.

Vikings made a great start to the 2022-23 season

Meanwhile, adding Hockenson to the team has definitely made the Vikings stronger than before. Fans are looking forward to seeing his partnership with the other tight end, Irv Smith. The Vikings’ quarterback Kirk Cousins has been performing consistently this season, which gave them a great chance to challenge other teams.

So far, they have won 6 out of 7 games and are currently sitting at the top of the NFC North division ahead of the Packers. If they continue to perform similarly, they will become a big threat in the NFC division and could even win the Super Bowl.

Do you think the Vikings could go all the way this season?

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