Vikings ‘working through’ whether T.J. Hockenson, Dalton Risner will return to practice this week

Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson and guard Dalton Risner are eligible to return to practice this week, but head coach Kevin O’Connell alluded Monday to the possibility of waiting another two weeks on both.

The Vikings’ next two weeks will not be normal practice schedules. They’ll hold one regular session at TCO Performance Center on Wednesday before jetting to London on Thursday afternoon. They’re scheduled to practice in London on Friday before Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Then the team goes into a bye week, when players leave for five or six off days, meaning it’s not an ideal time to open the 21-day practice windows allowed for players on injured lists.

“We’re working through that right now,” O’Connell said. “Based upon the unique aspect of this week and leading into the bye week, we’ll have some dialogue to try to do what’s best for both of those guys to be in their best positions to maximize that [21-day practice] window.”

“I want to give them an ample amount of practice time,” O’Connell added, “because it’s one thing to open a practice window, but what does that practice look like? That may be this week. It may not.”

O’Connell said he’s optimistic that linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. will return from a two-game absence because of a right ankle injury suffered in a Sept. 19 practice.

“Hoping to have IP back this week,” O’Connell said. “He was close to being able to make it [last week].”

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the NFL’s oldest player at 40 years old, hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire while averaging 212 passing yards through his first four games back from a torn Achilles last season. But Vikings defenders aren’t sleeping on their former NFC North rival, even those like cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who has only faced Rodgers once, a 2021 loss when Murphy was with the Cardinals.

“Obviously, we know he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks,” Murphy said. “We have to be very detailed on film, seeing what routes he likes to throw. His arm strength is still one of his biggest things.”

Vikings defenders have grown accustomed to hearing opponents compliment how they’re playing under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, whose group has allowed just 14.8 points per game and forced the second-most takeaways (10) in the league. Safety Camryn Bynum said this year’s version has been less experimental than last year’s blitzing barrage.

“People just say how confusing it is,” Bynum said. “It’s funny to hear because we’re not even doing anything too outside the box this year. We’ve kind of toned it down from what we’ve normally done. But just the threat of our pressures and the threat of having so many guys that can do so many things is confusing out there.”

Karl-Anthony Towns getting abruptly traded from the Timberwolves to the Knicks created mixed feelings among Twin Cities sports fans. But one Vikings player is reunited with an old friend. Right tackle Brian O’Neill attended Salesianum School, a private Catholic high school in Delaware, with new Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo, who was part of the trade package sent by the Knicks for Towns.

“Crazy,” O’Neill said. “It’s going to be cool. I was texting him and his brother. I said, ‘Hey, come to the driveway and get some low post work anytime you want. I’m handing out buckets.’ ”