Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Will Reichard (16) warms up before the SEC Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings decided to move on from Greg Joseph over the offseason. It was expected they would have a kicking competition during training camp, but that is over just a few days in.
On Monday, Parker Romo confirmed he is out for Minnesota. Signed as a kicking option this offseason, Romo was thought to boast a big leg that could be valuable for Minnesota. Needing to shore up a position that has been a problem for years, it made sense to turn over a few new stones.
Romo kicked through the Vikings’ offseason program, but he was done just days after training camp started. Of course, this outcome should have been expected when the Minnesota Vikings used a draft pick on Will Reichard. The Alabama kicker was a product of draft capital, and his selection meant that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had found his new leg for the roster.
Minnesota could have allowed Reichard and Romo some time to battle things out during training camp, but early reports on the former Crimson Tide placekicker have all been positive. The Vikings clearly decided they had seen enough. With Reichard coming into the league as a rookie, his getting all of the reps and individualized attention can’t be a bad thing.
Minnesota must get the kicker position right, and Reichard could be an opportunity to right Daniel Carlson’s wrong. Moving on too quickly, Minnesota now watches their former kicker be among the best in the league for another franchise. Maybe Reichard can ascend to those heights, but he must substantiate his performance in games that count.
Romo could certainly be back if something unexpected happens, but for now, it appears the decision has been made.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.