The Minnesota Vikings face a competitive decision at the punter position following their preseason finale against Denver. Head coach Kevin O’Connell must choose between veteran Johnny Hekker and undrafted rookie Bret Thorson, with both candidates showing comparable performance throughout the three exhibition games.
The statistics reveal a remarkably close competition. Hekker averaged 40.0 yards per punt across nine attempts, while Thorson posted a 41.5-yard average. Both players demonstrated consistency in directional kicking, pinning opposing offenses inside the 20-yard line on five occasions each. These parallel achievements suggest the final decision may hinge on factors beyond standard punting metrics.
O’Connell emphasized that the holding responsibilities for field goals will significantly influence the roster choice. The coach stated that beyond game performance, the team has reviewed extensive practice footage accumulated during training camp. While Hekker’s extensive NFL experience initially appeared to give him an advantage in handling holder duties, Thorson has not struggled with that responsibility during the preseason, as kicker Will Reichard made all his field goal attempts without incident.
Despite Thorson’s college background at Georgia, where quarterbacks traditionally handled holds, the rookie has adequately performed the secondary duty throughout camp and games. With neither candidate providing a clear distinction in either punting ability or holding performance, the decision remains genuinely competitive heading into the regular season.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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