Through offseason workouts, training camp, and two preseason games, the Minnesota Vikings have had a punter competition. Incumbent, and seven-year veteran, Jordan Berry was challenged by undrafted rookie Ryan Wright. The competition had been so close that Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels suggested that there might be a “punt-off” in tomorrow’s final preseason game against the Denver Broncos. That won’t be necessary. The Vikings decided yesterday that the rookie out of Tulane will be the punter.
The Vikings have made breaking in a new punter a near annual event. Jeff Locke’s four-year run at the position ended with the 2016 season. Since then:
2017: Ryan Quigley
2018: Matt Wile
2019: Britton Colquitt
2020: Britton Colquitt
2021: Jordan Berry
With Wright being a rookie perhaps there’s hope that he might hold the job for a while.
I’ve been intrigued by Wright since the Vikings signed him following the 2022 NFL Draft. A reason for that intrigue is his quarterbacking past. He was a very productive high school quarterback. That might be a nice skill to have in a punter when it comes to potential fake punts. New special teams coordinator Matt Daniels played for and coached with John Fassel while with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. Fassel thought so highly of his protégé that he brought Daniels with him to the Dallas Cowboys. During their time with the Rams, Fassel occasionally took advantage of the passing talents of punter Johnny Hekker. It’s a thought.
Wright won the competition with his punting. With the Vikings recent kicking atrocities, his ability and consistency as the team’s holder might be as important as his punting. Berry appeared to have a good thing going with kicker Greg Joseph and long snapper Andrew DePaola. Joseph didn’t miss many kicks during training camp. A couple misses did come with Wright as the holder. Hopefully, the new trio will form an outstanding kicking battery.
The release of Berry created an opening on the Vikings 80-man roster. That opening was filled when cornerback Tye Smith was re-signed. He had been released last week in the roster cut-down to 85 players.
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