Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels may need to find replacements for two-thirds of the Vikings’ field goal and extra-point operations following injuries to key players.
Two-time Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola and kicker Will Reichard were both hurt in Sunday’s victory over the Colts.
Daniels said Tuesday that the team is still assessing Reichard’s injury. The Vikings sign kicker, a source confirmed, after he participated in a tryout with other kickers at the TCO Performance Center in Eagan.
Romo, who went undrafted in 2022 out of Virginia Tech, spent part of the offseason with the Vikings before being waived at the start of training camp.
At 27 years old, Romo could make his NFL debut for Minnesota in Sunday’s game against Jacksonville if Reichard is unavailable.
“We don’t want to go into this week expecting Will to play and then have him not feel his best by Friday,” Daniels explained. “We don’t want to put him in a difficult situation.”
Reichard, a sixth-round pick from Alabama, had been dealing with leg soreness leading up to Sunday’s game and aggravated a right quad strain during the contest. However, Daniels said Reichard did not report the leg issue to the team before the game. The rookie had made 14 of 16 field goals and all 23 extra-point attempts, with his first two missed kicks on Sunday ending a streak of 34 straight successful kicks to start his NFL career.
Additionally, the Vikings will soon need to sign a new long snapper.
DePaola, 37, appeared to injure his right hand while making a tackle on Colts punt returner Josh Downs in the fourth quarter. He will require surgery and is expected to be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least four games.
Replacing two-thirds of the specialists is a significant challenge for Daniels.
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