EAGAN, Minn. — On Tuesday, the Vikings placed All-Pro and Pro Bowl long snapper Andrew DePaola, along with rookie kicker Will Reichard, on Injured Reserve.
DePaola sustained a hand injury on Sunday, while Reichard had been dealing with a quadriceps issue. Despite their injuries, both players finished the game, contributing to the Vikings’ 21-13 victory over Indianapolis on Sunday Night Football.
Replacing DePaola, a two-time Pro Bowler, 2022 First-Team All-Pro, and long-time team captain, will be a significant challenge for the Vikings. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Monday that DePaola will require surgery, sidelining him for several weeks. Since joining the team in 2020, DePaola has played 66 regular-season games and one playoff game for Minnesota.
The Vikings (6-2) will be eligible to activate either or both players from Injured Reserve after a minimum of four weeks.
Reichard, who started his NFL career by successfully making his first 14 field goals and 20 extra points, struggled with a couple of misses from 53 and 31 yards in the second quarter. However, he continued to handle kickoff duties and converted all three of his extra-point attempts during the win.
Next, the Vikings will face the Jaguars (2-7) in Week 10.
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