Vikings Rookie’s Comeback on the Horizon
When the first round of the NFL draft ended, folks thought the Vikings would get huge contributions in the 2024 season from their class, as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent a ton of resources to bring J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner to the Twin Cities.
Vikings Rookie’s Comeback on the Horizon
Turner is a backup outside linebacker behind starters Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, and he has yet to usurp Patrick Jones for playing time. McCarthy, of course, landed on IR in August following his season-ending knee injury.
He was joined on IR by a fellow rookie last month when sixth-round kicker Will Reichard was placed on the list because of a quad injury. His debut season was put on pause for at least four games.
On Monday, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that the team would open the kicker’s practice window. They now have 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster, or his season is over. He can be activated at any point in that window.
In the same game as Reichard, against the Colts, the Vikings also lost long snapper Andrew DePaola to an injury. His practice window will also be opened. Losing two-thirds of the kicking operation (only punter and holder Ryan Wright remained) was scary, but the replacements, Parker Romo and Jake McQuaide have done a great job.
Romo scored all 12 points for the Vikings in the win over the Jaguars, and he hit the game-winner in overtime against the Bears. He made seven of eight extra points and 11 of 12 field goals, including a 55-yarder.
However, it will be Reichard’s job once he’s healthy enough. The rookie was perfect in his first seven games. In game eight, though, he missed a couple of kicks after suffering an injury in Week 9. In eight games with the Vikings, Reichard has hit 14 of 16 field goals and all 23 extra points. He also drilled a 58-yarder, the second-longest field goal in franchise history.
Reichard arrived with an extensive resume in college. He is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, hitting 295 of the 297 extra points and 84 of 100 field goal attempts at Alabama. Nobody has ever scored more than his 547 points.
Earlier in the season, in the close loss against the Lions, O’Connell would’ve sent Reichard out to kick the last-second game-winner, which would’ve been an NFL record 68-yarder. Unfortunately, an illegal formation penalty knocked the Vikings back five yards, ending that idea. Although he didn’t even attempt the kick, the fact that the Vikings even entertained the idea shows how much they value his talent.
GM Adofo-Mensah received some criticism for selecting a kicker in the draft, but he was excellent until his injury. Reichard will return shortly and reclaim his starting job. Two-time Pro Bowler DePaola will surely join him.
Romo, meanwhile, has done enough to earn an opportunity from another team once the Vikings turn back to Reichard. He has hit a long kick and a clutch kick.
Reichard could make his return on Sunday when Kirk Cousins and his Falcons come to Minnesota.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt