The Minnesota Vikings have placed rookie kicker Will Reichard and All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola on injured reserve, forcing changes to their special teams lineup for at least the next four games.
To fill the gaps, the team plans to sign kicker John Parker Romo and long snapper Jake McQuaide, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, as the deals were not yet official.
Romo, 27, is yet to play in an NFL regular-season game. Initially signed by the Vikings in March, he was released early in training camp after Reichard, a sixth-round pick from Alabama, secured the starting role. Romo’s collegiate career spanned Central Arkansas, Tulsa, and ultimately Virginia Tech, where he completed all 34 extra-point attempts and made 18 of 22 field goals in his final season in 2021. His professional experience includes stints with Chicago, Detroit, and a season with the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2023.
McQuaide, 36, is a seasoned NFL veteran with 14 seasons under his belt, including a decade with the Rams in both St. Louis and Los Angeles. During his last season with the Rams in 2020, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was the offensive coordinator. McQuaide also previously teamed with Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels, who was both his teammate and assistant coach during his time with the Rams. McQuaide’s career includes roles with Dallas and Detroit, and most recently, he was on Chicago’s practice squad. He has played in 190 regular-season games and 10 playoff contests.
Reichard sustained a quadriceps strain but maintained an impressive performance up until then, going 14-for-14 on field goals and 20-for-20 on extra points in the first seven games. However, he missed a 53-yard attempt wide right and struck the upright on a 31-yarder in Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, after which Daniels noted that the injury likely occurred during an extra-point attempt. Despite this, Reichard managed to complete the game, making three extra points in the second half and handling kickoffs.
Daniels praised Reichard’s resilience, calling him “tough as all get out,” for playing through the injury. Reichard’s 94.9% field-goal success rate ranks second among NFL kickers with at least 15 attempts, and he remains one of the few to have made every extra point among kickers with 20 or more attempts this season.
DePaola, who has been a consistent presence since joining the Vikings in 2020, will undergo minor hand surgery following an injury sustained during Sunday’s game. The two-time Pro Bowl selection and 2023 AP All-Pro has not missed a game with the Vikings.
Both players could potentially return for the Dec. 8 game against Atlanta. In the meantime, the Vikings face Jacksonville, Tennessee, Chicago, and Arizona.
