At this point last season, the Minnesota Vikings and their fans were perfectly fine with Blair Walsh. The kicker has a strong leg, and while his accuracy was right in the middle of the pack last year, he usually made kicks in big-time moments.

He missed four extra points in 2015 under the new rule that pushed it back, but he was 80 percent on field goals over 40 yards, and 75 percent on 50+. Those numbers are pretty solid.

Then, the wild card playoff game happened. With a chance to send the Vikings to the divisional round with a win over the Seahawks, Walsh missed a 27-yarder. It was one of the coldest games in NFL history, which made kicking extremely difficult, but the psychological toll appears to have carried over to this year.

Walsh currently leads the NFL with three missed extra points so far this season, including one this past Sunday that was pivotal in Minnesota's loss to Detroit. He also had a 46-yard field goal blocked, bringing his FG percentage down to 75.

As a result, the Vikings began tryouts for other kickers today. A total of six players attended the workout, including (according to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo) Randy Bullock, Kai Forbath, Zach Hocker, and Travis Coons.

Article Continues Below
More Minnesota Vikings News
Vikings legend Jim Marshall, Hall of Famer Brett Favre
Brett Favre’s heartfelt reaction to Vikings legend Jim Marshall’s passingAlex House ·
Dec 11, 1976; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall (70) against the Miami Dolphins at the Orange Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- Imagn Images
Purple People Eaters legend who played 270 straight games passes awayZachary Draves ·
vikings, minnesota vikings
3 Minnesota Vikings hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to knowGarrett Kerman ·
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
Vikings lock up GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to multi-year contract extensionBen Strauss ·
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) under center against the Las Vegas Raiders in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
JJ McCarthy hype train speeding up at OTAsScotty White ·
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) carries the ball and runs against Chicago Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn (57) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit
How ESPN projects Packers, Bears’ chances to beat out Lions in NFC NorthBen Strauss ·

Sticking with Walsh

However, after evaluating all of their options, Minnesota is standing pat. From ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Vikings worked out multiple kickers today but are now planning to stick with Blair Walsh, per league source.

Hopefully, Walsh can respond and improve his performance as the Vikings make a playoff push.