Matt Daniels on Vikings' Competitions at Kicker, Punt Returner
Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels spoke to the media on Friday afternoon, touching on the team's competitions at both kicker and punt returner. Here's what he had to say.
"It is a kicking competition"
If Greg Joseph is going to keep his job as the Vikings' kicker this year, he'll have to hold off undrafted rookie Jack Podlesny, the kicker for Georgia's back-to-back NCAA title-winning teams. Daniels confirmed that this is, indeed, a kicking competition.
"Last year, we had Jordan Berry, we had Mr. (Ryan) Wright, it was a punting competition," Daniels said. "This year, we have Greg Joseph and Jack Podlesny and it's a kicking competition. The goal is, we're looking to compete at every single aspect, every single level of every single position. It is a kicking competition between those two."
Joseph should be considered the favorite — and perhaps a heavy one at that — but it's no sure thing. He'll have to earn it. Just look to last year, when Wright beat out the veteran Berry as a UDFA and claimed the punter job. Joseph missed an NFL-high 13 kicks last year, but he has a big advantage over Podlesny when it comes to leg power. To make up for that, Podlesny will have to be super consistent from within 50 yards.
Punt returner battle should be interesting
Jalen Reagor was the Vikings' punt returner last season, averaging 6.4 yards per return with a long of just 25 yards. He might be on the roster bubble this year, so he'll have to impress as a punt returner to keep that job. Prior to last year, he had averaged 9.2 yards per return with one touchdown during his Eagles career.
Several players could vie for that role this year, but Brandon Powell and Jalen Nailor appear to be the primary challengers. Powell, who was signed as a free agent this offseason, has a career average of 9.6 yards per punt return with a 61-yard touchdown against the Vikings in 2021. Nailor did some returning at Michigan State and has impressive speed.
"We got a few guys at that position," Daniels said. "You look at 'em, three different body types — I won't go into describing those said body parts this year — but you look at those guys and they all have the same exact mindset, and it's to attack cover teams vertically and fearlessly. I look forward to seeing how that plays out."
There are a couple other names to watch there, too. Undrafted rookie Thayer Thomas was NC State's punt returner for five years, and first-round pick Jordan Addison did some punt returning in college as well.
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