The Minnesota Vikings have a situation developing with tight end T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson, who was acquired from the Detroit Lions in a trade last season, has not been participating in team drills throughout training camp.

The reasoning for missing certain practice drills? An inner ear infection is what he is listed with. But, there are a lot of people who believe that the absences are tied to the lack of movement on the contract extension front.

Judd Zulgad of SKOR North was able to catch up with Hockenson this past Monday after the Vikings’ practice ended. Zulgad did not beat around the bush, as he straight up as the Vikings’ starting tight end what was going on between the two sides and if the ear infection was more about his contract situation.

“I stopped him after practice to ask about his inner-ear infection and/or contract situation because he continues not to take part in team drills. I asked him flat out, “Is this about your contractual situation?”

He said, “That’s not my focus. I wanna be set for the season-opener.” [Hockenson] also said he doesn’t know if a contract is near. But it certainly is suspicious that Hockenson [is] still taking part in drills, just not team drills, as the season approaches. He has now missed valuable practice time.”

This certainly sounds like a hold-in that the Vikings are dealing with. That has become a popular tactic by players around the league. They will show up to practice and participate enough to not get fined but express their displeasure by sitting out and not participating in certain parts of practice.

Hockenson, a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is set to play the 2023 season out on a fifth-year option. But, he is seeking a long-term deal from the Vikings. According to Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, money, despite what Hockenson has said, is the main sticking point.

“The holdup in Hockenson negotiations is believed to be not the overall amount of the contract, but the amount of guaranteed money. The Vikings the past two years have ranked in the bottom half-dozen in the NFL in actual cash payroll. It might be more than coincidental that two years ago owners Mark and Zygi Wilf paid more than $400 million for Major League Soccer’s Orlando City team.

Some smart people wonder whether that purchase has had an effect on how much cash they can spend going forward on the Vikings.”

Hockenson and the Vikings aren’t haggling over small numbers, either. Brad Spielberger of PFF projected the Iowa product to cash in on a huge contract worth up to $64 million with $37.5 million guaranteed.

That kind of contract would make Hockenson the second-highest-paid tight end in the NFL. He has certainly performed at a high level throughout his career, earning two Pro Bowl trips in four seasons in the NFL. If the Vikings want to put this behind them, they are going to have to compensate him handsomely.