The Vikings confirm that TJ Hockenson will return against the Lions or Rams

TJ Hockenson's return will come either against the Lions in Week 7 or when the Vikings play the Rams on Thursday night in Week 8. The confirmation came Wednesday from Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell, who announced that Hockenson's 21-day practice window would open Friday.

“We will be opening TJ’s window on Friday. I want his window opened and him to come here,” O'Connell said, noting that guard Dalton Risner remains on the injured list with a back injury and that an update on him won. It won't be available until after Minnesota's Week 6 bye.

Hockenson will be in London practicing with the Vikings later this week. He won't play against the Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, but with his window open, the bye runs into Week 6 and the Lions game on October 20 is 17 days away, leaving four days left before the Vikings have to activate it. Those four extra days get the Vikings to Oct. 24, the day they will visit the Rams Thursday Night Football.