After having Ryan Wright as their punter for the last four seasons, and with free-agent spending far more tepid than in the 2025 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings simply couldn't match the contract the New Orleans Saints offered.
That led to the signing of veteran punter Johnny Hekker, followed by undrafted rookie Brett Thorson. Thorson eased concerns about his ability as holder for kicker Will Reichard and won the job during the preseason.
Thorson has been fine through two regular-season games. But he came out of Week 2's win over the Chicago Bears with a right hamstring injury. On Tuesday, creating a layer of concern about Thorson's health heading into Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hekker signed to the Vikings' practice squad.
Alas, Thorson did not practice all week, and he is out for Sunday's game. So Hekker will get an opportunity to be the Vikings' punter against the Buccaneers. That's still in question, and on Friday, head coach Kevin O'Connell was vague about the idea that Thorson will have to go on IR.
Johnny Hekker’s passing record could bring back the Minnesota Vikings’ fake punt vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As accomplished as Hekker is, with four-time First Team All-Pro nods, two Second Team All-Pro nods, and four Pro Bowl selections on his resume as a punter, he is also 15-for-26 as a passer for 193 yards with a touchdown, 12 first down completions, and a 77.9 passer rating over his long career.
For a comparison on that last statistical front, though it's obviously not apples-to-situational-apples, J.J. McCarthy had a 72.6 percent passer rating last season. But the point still stands.
If he's going to throw the ball, Hekker is a legitimate weapon on fake punts. However, and maybe the Tennessee Titans should have had him do it, all things considered, he did not have a pass attempt last season.
Matt Daniels is in his fourth season as the Vikings' special teams coach. The only season Wright had a pass attempt was 2022, when he went 1-for-2 for 13 yards, as the completion indeed extended the drive.
Why the fake punt has not reappeared in the Vikings' special teams bag since then is a question only Daniels can answer. That said, the situations in the two games so far this season didn't really foster taking that kind of risk.
Maybe that changes this afternoon in Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay (h/t and R.I.P. Dennis Green). If nothing else, Hekker opens up that box in a way Thorson might not have been trusted to do just yet.
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