Were the Vikings up to some Monday Night Shenanigans?
ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” booth seemed to think so.
Cameras caught Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell telling T.J. Hockenson to “go down” in the second quarter against the 49ers, as the tight end was hobbled on the field with 8:35 remaining in the half and Minnesota in the red zone.
Hockenson promptly dropped to the field grabbing his left calf.
“We just caught Kevin O’Connell on camera saying ‘T.J. go down,’” ESPN play-by-play announcer Joe Buck said on the “Monday Night Football” broadcast.
“Buying some time,” former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman responded.
ESPN went into a commercial break as Hockenson was tended to by Minnesota trainers on the field, stopping the game and play clocks.
The 26-year-old was able to walk off the field on his own, fueling speculation that O’Connell had him fake an injury for a few extra seconds ahead of a scoring opportunity that ended in a field goal.
However coming back from commercial break, Buck updated his reporting.
“Hockenson appears to be fine on the sideline,” Buck said. “He was gimpy getting up after blocking out in front of Cam Akers. And Kevin O’Connell saw that and just told Hockenson to go down, which is what he did. That stopped the clock.”
Hockenson was hurt on a third-and-10 play in which Kirk Cousins passed to Akers for 30 yards, setting up the Vikings on the 49ers’ 2-yard line.
He didn’t miss much time, however, returning to catch an eight-yard pass from Cousins in the Vikings’ final drive of the half — on which Jordan Addison scored a 60-yard touchdown to make it a 16-7 game.
Hockenson finished the half with six catches for 66 yards.
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