Training camp preview: Tight ends and safeties

A closer look at two positions with depth battles and proven players who need to step up

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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By Matthew Coller

We continue our series analyzing the entire Vikings roster before camp with the tight ends and safeties….

The tight end depth chart

TJ Hockenson — Entering his fifth season as a Minnesota Viking as TE1. It was uncertain whether the Vikings would bring him back based on his contract situation but it’s telling that they wanted him in the mix. Hockenson is aiming to prove that he can still be a top tight end after two down seasons.

Josh Oliver — The Vikings extended Oliver last year after he has become one of the premier blocking tight ends in the NFL and a reliable weapon through the air. Injuries limited him to 400 snaps on offense in 2025 but he played 553 in 2024 and 467 in 2023, so we can expect him to be on the field often.

Ben Yurosek — After going undrafted in 2025, Yurosek ended up on the active roster and saw a decent amount of playing time. He appeared on offense in 12 games and finished with 116 snaps. While he only grabbed two passes, Yurosek showed to have potential as a blocker with reliable hands. He will be in a battle for TE3.

Bryson Nesbit — Last summer, Nesbit showed flashes of strong athletic traits and potential as a receiving tight end. He caught five preseason passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. If things click, he has a chance to make a case for a roster spot.

Gavin Bartholomew — Drafted in the sixth round because of his pass-catching ability, Bartholomew suffered a back injury in rookie minicamp and was unable to play in his debut season. This year he will get an opportunity to show why the team picked him.

Marshall Lang — After catching 48 passes over four college seasons at Northwestern, the Seahawks signed Lang as a UDFA last year. He spent time with the Patriots this spring before being released and signing in Minnesota.

The tight end numbers to know

— It was a down year for TJ Hockenson in terms of volume but quarterbacks targeting him actually had success in doing so. QBs had a rating of 110.8 when tossing the ball to Hock in 2025.

— But Hockenson was not given many opportunities to make plays. In 2022, he had 29 contested-catch opportunities and then 25 in 2024. Last year he only had five chances and caught three. Also his career average depth of target is 7.7 yards but last year it was only 5.2 ADOT. As a result, Hock’s PFF grade dropped from a solid 74.2 in 2024 to 61.2.

— Josh Oliver’s run blocking has been elite in the past but last year he wasn’t as effective as previous seasons, only grading 29th out of 93 tight ends in 2025 as a run blocker. In 2024, he was No. 1 in run blocking grade. That number may be the result of some injuries and inconsistency on the offensive line.

— Oliver has been a very effective weapon despite getting limited targets. As a Viking he has 59 receptions on 70 targets with nine touchdowns. With so many weapons on the team, we can’t expect a lot of passes going his way but he can’t be forgotten as an effective option.

— Ben Yurosek played 91 of his 116 snaps as a blocker and performed solidly overall. He had a 62.6 run blocking grade, which is a shade above replacement level and allowed zero pressures on 13 snaps as an additional pass protector.

The tight end camp storylines

— Chemistry with Hockenson and the quarterbacks

It’s notable that Hockenson was on pace for a 78-reception season while playing with Carson Wentz but after Wentz got hurt he only caught 24 passes in the final eight games of the season. Will he either connect instantly with Kyler Murray or get on the same page as JJ McCarthy during training camp?

Nobody loved throwing to his tight end more than Murray in recent years as Trey McBride had 111 catches in 2024 with the Cardinals.

We know that that most important player in camp is Justin Jefferson but Hockenson might not be far behind. Bringing him back was a loud signal that they do not think his talent has faded as much as he was a victim of circumstance. Whoever is playing quarterback, they should be able to take advantage of space that is created underneath to find him regularly. If either QB is not gettting him the ball, they are probably doing something wrong.

— Who is TE3?

There is a very interesting battle set to play out between the backup tight ends. Last year, Yurosek showed that he can get into games as a blocker and be trusted and he flashed solid hands in training camp if they need to throw the ball his way. But Bartholomew was drafted for a reason. He’s a really good athlete and has decently high potential as a receiver. Nesbit is the fastest of the group and could go downfield but doesn’t exactly have the size to make a difference as a blocker. And it’s worth noting that Nolan Teasley had Lang in Seattle before bringing him on board.

The safety depth chart