Inside The Vikings

Vikings injury report: Will Reichard, Josh Oliver full participants to start week

Reichard and Oliver are set to return for Minnesota this week after multi-game absences.
Will Ragatz|
Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks a field goal as punter Ryan Wright (17) looks on during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers U.S. Bank Stadium.
Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks a field goal as punter Ryan Wright (17) looks on during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers U.S. Bank Stadium. | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Vikings

Vikings kicker Will Reichard was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, putting him on track to return this week against the Falcons after a four-game absence. He's been on injured reserve since aggravating a quad injury against the Colts in Week 9.

Earlier on Wednesday, O'Connell said he was hoping to have Reichard back this week "barring any setbacks" in practice. The fact that he practiced in full suggests that if everything goes smoothly over the next couple days, he'll be activated from IR on Saturday and will be Minnesota's kicker on Sunday.

John Parker Romo filled in admirably for the Vikings during Reichard's absence, going 11 for 12 on field goal attempts. He's proven he belongs in the NFL, but there was never any question that the rookie from Alabama would get his job back once he was healthy again.

Long snapper Andrew DePaola is also set to be activated on Saturday and make his return from IR.

Tight end Josh Oliver practiced in full on Wednesday as well. O'Connell said Monday that he expected Oliver to return this week, and that appears to be the case. It'll provide a nice boost to the Vikings' offense to get one of their best blockers — and a sneakily solid pass-catcher — back this week after he had missed the last two games. Oliver ranks fifth on the Vikings' roster in receptions this season, sixth in yardage, and fourth in touchdown catches.

Stephon Gilmore, as expected, did not practice. He seems likely to miss at least one game with his hamstring injury, which would mean more action for Fabian Moreau.

Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman were among four players listed as limited, but there's likely no reason to be worried about their statuses for Sunday.

Here's the full injury report from Wednesday:

Vikings-Falcons Wednesday injury report
Vikings-Falcons Wednesday injury report | Minnesota Vikings
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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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