Vikings Assess Replacement Options for Injured Specialists

The Minnesota Vikings, currently 6-2, face significant challenges following their recent victory over the Indianapolis Colts, as both rookie kicker Will Reichard and long snapper Andrew DePaola are injured. Reichard is dealing with a quad injury that affected his performance, leading to two missed field goals, while DePaola will undergo minor surgery for a hand injury and is likely to be placed on injured reserve. Head coach Kevin O'Connell indicated that the team is evaluating Reichard's condition and may need to bring in temporary replacements for both positions. Reichard's perfect streak of 34 successful kicks came to an end during the game, raising concerns about the Vikings' kicking operation. The team plans to host tryouts for kickers and long snappers to address the situation. Additionally, left tackle Christian Darrisaw is set to have surgery for a knee injury sustained in a previous game.