Strong as ever, kickers remain a key to success
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — When the Minnesota Vikings signed Kai Forbath last season, he’d gone 10½ months without kicking in a meaningful game.
Having emerged as the most viable candidate from the tryout group assembled amid Blair Walsh’s persistent struggles, Forbath was the favored option when the Vikings made the change. He’d diligently kept up his kicking and training during the hiatus, of course, but there was no way he could actually create gamelike atmospheres and conditions in preparation for the return to live action.
Forbath stepped in and performed like he’d never missed a turn. He’s not the only one in the NFL fraternity who has done so.
“It’s tough coming straight in and having to play a few days after your tryout,” Forbath said, “but that’s part of the job.”
In 15 games for the Vikings since his arrival, Forbath has made all but one of his 37 field goal attempts. That’s the best rate in the league over that span.
“Fortunately for me it wasn’t my first time doing that, so I had a little experience coming in and doing it right away,” said Forbath, who’d
been released by Washington after the first game of the 2015 season before joining New Orleans six weeks later.
Forgetting for a moment the perplexing recurrence of missed extra points, Forbath has been an unquestionable success coming straight from the street. Rookie Harrison Butker has also filled in seamlessly for AFC West leader Kansas City, which lost Cairo Santos to groin trouble three games in. Another rookie, Jake Elliott, has been holding his own for NFL-best Philadelphia after a hip injury waylaid Caleb Sturgis in the season opener. The 35-year-old Mike Nugent has fared well over the last two games for Dallas after stalwart Dan Bailey hurt his groin.