Slumping Kicker a Concern for Vikings Says Insider

By Ted Schwerzler |

Updated: Jan 6, 2025

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings — Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

When you are set up for the greatest regular season game of all time, it’s not ideal to come out and embarrass yourself. The Minnesota Vikings weren’t necessarily as awful as the score, but they certainly weren’t very good, either.

Neither Sam Darnold or Kevin O’Connell were very good on Sunday night. Another and maybe more problematic issue though is that rookie kicker Will Reichard hasn’t been good for some time. Which is certainly a cause for postseason concern.

Will Reichard may be a problem for the Minnesota Vikings

For weeks after being drafted in the sixth round, Will Reichard looked like a great comeup for a Minnesota team needing reliable kicking. Then he got hurt, and he hasn’t been the same since. Now ESPN’s Kevin Seifert is at least skeptical as to whether he sinks the ship.

“The Vikings are 9-1 in one-score games for several reasons, including well-timed field goals from Will Reichard and John Parker Romo, who served as a four-game injury replacement. Reichard opened the season by converting his first 14 field goal attempts before suffering a quadriceps injury. Since then, Reichard has made 10 of 16 kicks. The Vikings still have full confidence in Reichard and don’t believe that he is having any lingering effects from his injury. But taking a rookie kicker into the playoffs can be nerve-wracking, especially when he enters the postseason in a bit of a slump.”
Kevin Seifert on Will Reichard (ESPN)

The stakes are higher in the postseason, and Minnesota would certainly love to be seeing Reichard at his best. Since returning from injured reserve, the rookie has yet to miss an extra point. Unfortunately, though, he is just 10-of-14 on field goals in that stretch, and he missed his final two attempts before the injury.

Will Reichard misses a 51 yard field goal badly to the right,

Called by Paul Allen and Pete Bercich for KFXN in Minneapolis: pic.twitter.com/Pds1qLiS2C
— will: Riley Greene Truther (@wrhiv_72) January 6, 2025

Sunday’s performance was particularly troubling as multiple kickoffs looked poor, including one that went out of bounds and set the Lions up for a score. Reichard has continued to show a big leg, but the accuracy has escaped him.

Here's a fact that may or may not matter. Rookie PK Will Reichard has missed 5 kicks this season. Three have hit an upright and one hit the crossbar.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 30, 2024

Although some of his misses this season have been by just inches, it doesn’t change the result. Minnesota knows that they can win close games, but they have to feel an ability to be able to rely on the kicker to come through.

As Minnesota turns their attention to the Los Angeles Rams on wild card weekend, they must focus on execution. That is true from the top down, but for a player only rostered to make kicks, it’s time to find that early season form once again.

An uphill battle for Minnesota

It’s not just the kicking woes that the Vikings will be up against on Monday night. As they travel to Los Angeles, they’ll be seeking a chance to win a third-straight road playoff game. This team is good enough to do it, and NFL Analyst Ben Solak still believes.

“The Vikings could have carried a 10 (heat check, currently 7) had they beaten the Lions on Sunday night, but this is still an excellent team on both sides of the ball. Few teams have won three straight playoff games on the road, but if anyone can do it, I’d back these Vikings.”
Ben Solak on the Vikings (ESPN)

After losing a game against the Lions, Minnesota should feel excited about an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to the Rams. O’Connell gets to match wits with former boss Sean McVay again, and he should be looking to prove his team has the upper hand.

This game is unlikely to involve a controversial facemask call, and Minnesota is a road favorite for a reason. There’s an immediate opportunity to remove the bad taste from an ugly loss to Detroit. In order to do so, the 14-win team will need to show up.

A game-sealing safety on what should've been a facemask call against the Rams.

"They cannot review that. But he definitely got the facemask (of Sam Darnold). " – Kirk Herbstreit

"Viking fans are going 'What the hell?!'" – Al Michaels #NFL #TNF 🏈🦓🎙️ pic.twitter.com/DbfLrhtXHr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 25, 2024

There’s a scenario in which the Vikings host a playoff game after winning on Wild Card Weekend. Even if they travel back out on the road to see the Lions for a third time, that’s still a scenario they’d welcome.