In a recent press conference, Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson expressed his concerns over player safety in the NFL following a season-ending injury caused by a low hit from Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph during Week 16. Hockenson suffered a torn ACL and MCL on the play and is currently undergoing rehabilitation as the team enters their offseason program this week.

Addressing reporters, Hockenson clarified that he did not believe Joseph intentionally aimed to injure him, but rather deemed the tackle to be "not a good football tackle." The tight end referred to a similar hit by Joseph on Rams' tight end Tyler Higbee earlier in the season, emphasizing that such plays need to be addressed by the league.

Hockenson noted that offensive players are not allowed to cut block outside the tackle box for safety reasons, and called for the NFL to evaluate the rules regarding defensive players. He stated, "You can't cut outside of the tackle box, so it doesn't really make sense why these guys are able to go as low as they are. When you're 25 yards downfield, looking back at the quarterback, you don't have any awareness."

Despite acknowledging that Joseph was following the expectations set by the league, Hockenson expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that he would have preferred a concussion over going through a nine-month recovery period. The tight end emphasized that the issue needed to be addressed, urging the NFL to consider possible solutions to prevent similar injuries in the future.

As Hockenson enters rehabilitation, doubts have been raised regarding his availability for the start of the upcoming season. When asked on Monday if he thinks he can be ready for the opener, Hockenson responded, "Anything is possible."

The Vikings organization will undoubtedly monitor Hockenson's progress and support his recovery, while the conversation around player safety and the need for rule revisions continues to gain attention in the NFL.