Vikings trade to address kicking
Seeking to solve their longtime kicking trouble, the Vikings acquired specialist Kaare Vedvik in a trade with the Ravens on Sunday.
Vedvik kicked and punted in preseason for Baltimore, which was set with Justin Tucker and Sam Koch. The Ravens said they got an unspecified draft pick.
The leaguewide interest in the native of Norway and former Marshall University kicker and punter increased after Vedvik went 4for4 on fieldgoal tries in Baltimore’s first preseason game Thursday. One was from 55 yards, and Vedvik also made two extrapoint tries and punted twice for a 55.5 yard average.
Minnesota has kicker Dan Bailey, who missed seven fieldgoal attempts last season with a careerworst 75% conversation rate, and punter Matt Wile.
Bailey connected on all four of his extrapoint attempts and didn’t have a fieldgoal try in the first preseason game Friday.
“Honestly, I really like Dan Bailey,” Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said. “I think he’s a very professional, mature kid. We’ve been having some issues with the three, the snap, hold, kick.”
Wile, the holder last year, was tied for ninth in the NFL in 2018 with a 41.5yard net punting average. He punted twice Friday for a 42.5yard average.
Vedvik spent the 2018 season on the nonfootball injury list for the Ravens after he suffered serious injuries to his head and face as the victim of an apparent assault the day before final cuts. He told police he didn’t remember what happened.
“A lot more emotional than I thought it was going to be,” Vedvik told the team’s website after Baltimore’s game on Thursday. “A lot of anticipation. It’s been a long year building up to come back to this moment again. I love football. I love sports. Getting back on the field, it’s a different feeling.” Injury report:
Denver running back Theo Riddick is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks because of a shoulder fracture, NFL.com reported. Riddick was injured Thursday during a preseason game against Seattle . ... Seattle quarterback Geno Smith underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his knee . ... Arizona activated tight end Charles Clay and cornerback Brandon Williams from the physicallyunabletoperform list . ... Washington placed quarterback Josh Woodrum on injured reserve after he sustained a torn pectoral muscle in the team’s preseason opener. Briefly: Washington signed former Baylor quarterback Jalan McClendon . ... Buffalo signed defensive end Sam Acho, who played the past four seasons with Chicago . ... Pittsburgh receivers coach Darryl Drake, who spent more than 30 years working with players at the college and pro level, died Sunday, the team said. He was 62 . ... Ron Minegar, Arizona’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, was arrested in Chandler, Ariz., on Saturday night on suspicion of DUI.