Vikings Held a Punter Workout Today

Better make sure it’s an interim guy that can hold for field goals….looks line one of them was Hekker. Make it so. 👌

The #Vikings worked out three punters today:

—Former All-Pro Johnny Hekker, who was with them this summer
—Veteran Matt Haack
—Rookie Jack Stonehouse https://t.co/TYLU4vV2D0

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 22, 2026

StickierBuns wrote:

Better make sure it’s an interim guy that can hold for field goals….looks line one of them was Hekker. Make it so. 👌

I would think Thorson could still do the holding for field goals?

purplefaithful wrote:

I would think Thorson could still do the holding for field goals?

I hadn’t thought of that lol… Unless they decide to put a him on IR. And I guess he’d be inactive on game days if no IR, so I don’t think they’d keep a gameday roster spot for him just to hold for Will. 🤷

StickierBuns wrote:

I hadn’t thought of that lol… Unless they decide to put a him on IR. And I guess he’d be inactive on game days if no IR, so I don’t think they’d keep a gameday roster spot for him just to hold for Will. 🤷

Wouldnt surprise me if they do though...Depends of course, on what's happening elsewhere on the roster.

The Assassin needs to keep rocking things...

purplefaithful wrote:

Wouldnt surprise me if they do though...Depends of course, on what's happening elsewhere on the roster.
The Assassin needs to keep rocking things...

which is why you sign Hekker if you need to sign anybody, hes only been away from the team for 3 weeks so there should be recent familiarity to go off of.

This is another reason I think QB2 should be holding for EP/FG, sure there is that chance that he is needed to play QB, which then you could use the P as the emergency holder, but at some point you may want to try some trickery and I think having your clip board holder in there to pass the ball is likely better than a punter.

Hekker is signed. Sounds like Thorson will head to IR.

A friendly face returns. https://t.co/FiwEgNuwD7

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 22, 2026

JimmyinSD wrote:

which is why you sign Hekker if you need to sign anybody, hes only been away from the team for 3 weeks so there should be recent familiarity to go off of.
This is another reason I think QB2 should be holding for EP/FG, sure there is that chance that he is needed to play QB, which then you could use the P as the emergency holder, but at some point you may want to try some trickery and I think having your clip board holder in there to pass the ball is likely better than a punter.

Number 2 guy is Wentz, so then you’d have Wentz holding most of the last two games. It’s a slippery slope.

Riphawkins wrote:

Number 2 guy is Wentz, so then you’d have Wentz holding most of the last two games. It’s a slippery slope.

Qb2 was JJM last Sunday.

JimmyinSD wrote:

Qb2 was JJM last Sunday.

This is true, however are the Vikings going to have JJM active the whole year on game day? Probably not. You can’t have two QB’s practicing holding for the place kicker. Normally Wentz is QB2, I don’t know if I want his old body out there holding, he seems he’d be awkward doing it.

Canthony wrote:

Hekker is signed. Sounds like Thorson will head to IR.

I haven't seen him moved to IR yet....this might be a more short term injury for Thorson than you'd think.

Riphawkins wrote:

This is true, however are the Vikings going to have JJM active the whole year on game day? Probably not. You can’t have two QB’s practicing holding for the place kicker. Normally Wentz is QB2, I don’t know if I want his old body out there holding, he seems he’d be awkward doing it.

I doubt hed be anymore awkward than chubby punters who have done it. Hes a professional athlete, he did a good job of chasIng down that high snap and covering it, how often do we see those situations turn into a 3 stooges episode?

Riphawkins wrote:

This is true, however are the Vikings going to have JJM active the whole year on game day? Probably not. You can’t have two QB’s practicing holding for the place kicker. Normally Wentz is QB2, I don’t know if I want his old body out there holding, he seems he’d be awkward doing it.

The punters have been the holders for Reichard (Wright previously, Thorson now)....and Hekker will hold Sunday.

StickierBuns wrote:

I haven't seen him moved to IR yet....this might be a more short term injury for Thorson than you'd think.

I read that this morning. They are stating it is day-to-day and will evaluate as such. Hekker is an insurance signing for the time being. That is better news than the initial thought of it when signing Hekker. Hopefully it is short term!

StickierBuns wrote:

The punters have been the holders for Reichard (Wright previously, Thorson now)....and Hekker will hold Sunday.

back in the old days.... the QBs held and we saw more fakes and stuff, certainly made the game more interesting. When the team switched to the dome they started having the P do the holding IIRC primarily because the LS, K and Punter would go do their own thing most of the time at the dome, while the back up QB had to stay at winter park and practice there, with the new facility though I think I see the P and K doing their work there and not at the stadium. ( could be wrong here) so it would be easier to have CW or JJM working with that unit as well.

JimmyinSD wrote:

back in the old days.... the QBs held and we saw more fakes and stuff, certainly made the game more interesting. When the team switched to the dome they started having the P do the holding IIRC primarily because the LS, K and Punter would go do their own thing most of the time at the dome, while the back up QB had to stay at winter park and practice there, with the new facility though I think I see the P and K doing their work there and not at the stadium. ( could be wrong here) so it would be easier to have CW or JJM working with that unit as well.

Hekker has a few passes and I believe a couple of TD passes as well.

Vikesrock wrote:

Hekker has a few passes and I believe a couple of TD passes as well.

He has, but he is the exception, not the rule in modern times. I think the option of the fake becomes more dynamic with a passer doing the holding, i will admit though that my argument loses a bit of steam since the league changed the extra point rules and the fake EP basically goes out the window.

StickierBuns wrote:

The punters have been the holders for Reichard (Wright previously, Thorson now)....and Hekker will hold Sunday.

JimmyinSD wrote:

back in the old days.... the QBs held and we saw more fakes and stuff, certainly made the game more interesting. When the team switched to the dome they started having the P do the holding IIRC primarily because the LS, K and Punter would go do their own thing most of the time at the dome, while the back up QB had to stay at winter park and practice there, with the new facility though I think I see the P and K doing their work there and not at the stadium. ( could be wrong here) so it would be easier to have CW or JJM working with that unit as well.

back in the old days, Paul Krause held for Fred Cox. I remember him pulling off some fake FG’s and running the ball. He did well, different time and era

Vikesrock wrote:

Hekker has a few passes and I believe a couple of TD passes as well.

If memory serves me correct, Hekker has thrown something like 86 passes in his career.

My memory is good, but its short.