The Vikings are preparing to host free-agent kickers and long snappers for a tryout this week after kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola sustained injuries against the Colts, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.
The team is “still evaluating” Reichard’s right quad after the rookie kicker strained his leg during Sunday night’s 21-13 win over the Colts. Reichard told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he had been “dealing with a little bit of soreness the last week or so,” and that he further strained his leg sometime during the first half. Reichard had made 34 straight kicks to begin his NFL career before missing field goal attempts of 53 and 31 yards against the Colts.
DePaola will require surgery on a hand injury suffered against the Colts, according to O’Connell, who said the All-Pro long snapper may be placed on injured reserve and miss a minimum of four games. Tight end Nick Muse, who is already on injured reserve, had been the backup long snapper. Center Garrett Bradbury is the next backup long snapper, but the team will look for a full-time replacement this week.
O’Connell said hosting free agents at both positions is “definitely something we’re considering right now.”
Reichard, the sixth-round pick, also dealt with a right quad injury in Sept. 2019 while at Alabama.
“You’d love to have him continue on the fabulous trajectory he’s been on really since he arrived here,” O’Connell said. “These things come up. We’ll go through the process here of making sure we put together the best plan to make sure we have him full and doing what he’s doing all season long really up until last night.”
O’Connell announced that left tackle Christian Darrisaw will undergo surgery Monday to repair his left knee, which suffered two torn ligaments in the Oct. 24 loss to the Rams.
