Report: Saints working out former Minnesota Vikings kicker
By Adam Carlson
The Saints are kicking the tires on a former Minnesota Vikings kicker.
It seems as though the Minnesota Vikings aren’t the only team that might be shopping for a kicker these days. In fact, the team that steamrolled the purple and gold in Week 16 are among those squads looking for a big, consistent leg.
The New Orleans Saints are reported to be working out three kickers for workouts and there is a chance one of them could be signed to be ready in case something happens with Will Lutz during their playoff run.
Saturday’s report was shared by the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter:
Saints working out Chandler Catanzaro, John Denney, Blair Walsh
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 1, 2021
Of course, the familiar name on that list is Blair Walsh. Walsh looked like the long-term answer for the Vikings as a kicker but has since struggled and bounced around the NFL, landing in Seattle for one season and not making the final cut for the Falcons in 2019.
Walsh holds Minnesota’s franchise records for most touchbacks on kickoffs, longest field goal, and most 50+ yard field goals. His consistency was great until a slump and some key misses forced the team to move on.
The kicker will be 31 yards old this year and could find a new groove for himself if he can get another opportunity as a backup kicker or sneak onto a practice squad. To do that, he would need to beat out Chandler Catanzaro and John Denney among any other candidates that are worked out.
A mention of Blair Walsh’s name will often send Minnesota Vikings fans into a bit of a bad flashback from the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks when he missed a field goal try from 27 yards out, costing the team a win.
It would be fun to see Blair Walsh back in the NFL and easing him in could be a great way for an NFL team to do it…as long as it isn’t with the Minnesota Vikings.