Some changes could be in the offing for the special teams
The Minnesota Vikings got back on the winning track on Sunday night, defeating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football. However, after that win, it sounds like the team will have to make a couple of changes to the special teams unit.
In his Monday press conference, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said that kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola are dealing with injury issues.
Specifically, DePaola suffered a hand injury that, per O’Connell, will require a procedure and will likely land DePaola on short-term injured reserve. DePaola was a first-team All-Pro in 2022 and a second-team All-Pro in 2023, so his absence would almost certainly be felt if the Vikings needed to find a replacement for him, even if it was temporary.
Reichard is dealing with a right quad injury that was mentioned several times during Sunday night’s game broadcast. Reichard has been having an outstanding season for the Vikings thus far and had not missed a kick all year before missing two field goals against Indianapolis. His injury is still being evaluated, but O’Connell said that it was possible that the Vikings may have to bring in some kickers this week.
The Vikings did have former XFL kicker John Parker Romo on the roster in the early stages of training camp, but we don’t know yet if they would bring him back or if they would go in a different direction.
In any event, the Vikings will definitely have to make at least one change to their special teams units and may potentially have to make more than one. Hopefully, this will not affect the team too greatly as they prepare to embark on a three-game road trip.