The Vikings are turning again to Johnny Hekker for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at U.S. Bank Stadium, elevating the veteran punter from the practice squad as Brett Thorson remains sidelined by a hamstring injury.
It’s the only practice squad move Minnesota has made this week, and it comes with some added significance. Hekker will handle both punting and holding duties for the second straight game, giving the Vikings a steady option while Thorson continues to work through the injury.
This is Hekker’s first elevation from the practice squad this season. Last week against Tampa Bay, he was signed to the 53-man roster rather than elevated, which means this time he still has two elevations left and won’t need to be released after the game.
Hekker made the most of his chance last week. He was called on eight times, averaged 46.5 yards per punt, had a long of 63, and put two kicks inside the 20-yard line. He also handled the holding duties on all three of Will Reichard’s field goal attempts and both extra points.
The Vikings haven’t said much about the severity of Thorson’s hamstring issue. He hasn’t been placed on injured reserve, but he also hasn’t practiced in two weeks. Whether Minnesota is waiting until after the bye week to get him back on the field isn’t clear, but for now the team has a reliable veteran in Hekker to cover the job.
Barring any surprises, that should be the final roster move before Sunday’s game.
In Other News...
Dolphins Vikings Game Had A Wild Referee Moment Fans Need To See
The Vikings meeting with the Dolphins had plenty going on, but one of the most replayed moments had nothing to do with a catch or a turnover. Late in the action, NFL referee Adrian Hill got caught in the middle of a tackle and was knocked to the turf by Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson, a collision that quickly turned an ordinary officiating sequence into the kind of scene fans kept sending around.
Hill stayed down briefly before getting back to his feet and confronting Wilson, with another official stepping in to separate things. The clip spread quickly on social media and drew a mix of reactions, the sort of unintended sideline drama that can take on a life of its own long after the game settles into the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Keep Winning Despite One Offensive Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Vikings keep stacking wins even as the offense has struggled to put together the kind of full-field performance fans usually expect from a contender. Minnesota has won three straight games without cracking 250 total yards in any of them, an unusual run in the Super Bowl era, but the results have held up because the rest of the roster has carried its weight.
Under Kevin OConnell, the formula has leaned on a strong defense, steady special teams and a team-wide emphasis on avoiding turnovers. It is a reminder that ugly box scores do not always stop a good team, especially when the other phases are doing enough to keep the Vikings in control. [Read more 🡒]
Jauan Jennings Faces Real Vikings Pressure In A Huge Opportunity
With Justin Jefferson ruled out for the matchup with the Miami Dolphins because of an ankle injury, the Vikings are suddenly leaning on a receiver room that looks a lot different than it did a week ago. Jordan Addison is now set to step into the WR1 role, and the ripple effect pushes Jauan Jennings into a much larger WR2 assignment, giving him one of the clearest chances yet to justify the playing time he has already been getting.
Jennings arrived with real expectations after signing his recent contract, but the production has not matched the opportunity so far. Minnesota does not have the luxury of easing into this one, either, because the offense needs someone beyond Addison to help absorb Jeffersons absence and keep the passing game moving against Miami. For Jennings, it is the kind of spot that can change the tone around a season quickly, even if the full answer is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]