Vikings Kicker Has Done It Again
The Minnesota Vikings selected the first kicker of the draft four months ago, choosing Will Reichard from Alabama, six weeks removed from letting incumbent specialist Greg Joseph walk to the Green Bay Packers.
Vikings Kicker Has Done It Again
And so far, Reichard has passed the test — and then some — at least during his first summer. Tuesday was the latest example, as the 23-year-old performed perfectly in practice.
The Vikings’ social media team uplifted his performance with a tweet:
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters also mentioned about Reichard’s performance on Tuesday, “The rookie was true from 50-plus yards to cap the first-team offense’s drive with less than a minute remaining. The offense started at the 50. After a 5-yard penalty, Sam Darnold was able to move the chains with a completion to Justin Jefferson.”
Minnesota employed kicker Parker Romo for a few months this offseason, but when the summer started rolling, Reichard became the obvious choice at the position for 2024, and Romo departed at the end of July.
Talk with any long-term Vikings fan, and the conversation will devolve into swapping horror stories about where each person was when Gary Anderson or Blair Walsh missed a kick. Such sorrow is ingrained deep in Vikings fans’ bones. That’s why finding someone once and for all — hopefully Reichard — is vital.
There are also statistics like this:
Most Missed FGs + XPs,
Last 5 Seasons:
Vikings: 49
Jets: 46
Colts: 45
Patriots: 44
Browns: 43
Cowboys: 43
Commanders: 41
Rams: 41
At Alabama, Reichard attempted 100 field goals on the nose, connecting on 84, including hitting 10 of his 13 attempts from 50+ yards. Fast forward to this summer, and Reichard has evolved into a from-distance kicking savant. The guy doesn’t really miss.
In June, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote about Reichard’s performance at minicamp, “During the team’s final OTA, which was moved indoors because of rain, Reichard nearly hit a balcony that is perched on the wall behind — and above — the goal posts while moving through a progression of 40+ yard attempts. Later, in a full drill with a defense, he drilled a 60-yarder that landed in a net that sits 10 feet behind the goal post and 10 feet off the ground.”
The man evidently has the juice beyond 60 yards, which is nearly impossible for a Vikings fan’s brain to comprehend.
It’s all good news for the Vikings regarding Reichard, and if the success continues into the regular season, the team’s so-called hex can be over.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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