Vikings specialists Ryan Wright, Will Reichard hope to turn career years into Pro Bowl nods

Vikings kicker Will Reichard “was really looking forward to that matchup” against Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, said special teams coordinator Matt Daniels.

Reichard, 24, walked out with the win and more accurate leg after Sunday’s 34-26 victory at Dallas. He made all six of his kicks, including a 53-yard field goal that extended the lead with about a minute left.

“’Will the Thrill,’” Daniels said Tuesday. “He really missed out on his opportunity to hit the ‘Thriller’ dance … but that was a big-time kick to seal the game. That guy continues to be a monster for us.”

Now Reichard wants to get to where Aubrey, his 30-year-old counterpart who makes 60-yard kicks, has been: Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. Reichard, a second-year pro, is tied for seventh in the NFL in field-goal percentage (92.3%). He has also made all 27 of his extra-point tries.

Punter Ryan Wright, who had a punt and friendly roll that traveled 65 yards against the Cowboys, continues to have his best year as well. Only Arizona’s Blake Gillikin has a better average net yards per punt than Wright (45) this season.

The Vikings have not had a Pro Bowl kicker since Blair Walsh in 2012. The only punter to make an all-star team in franchise history was Mitch Berger in 1999.

Long snapper Andrew DePaola has made three straight Pro Bowls for the Vikings. He finished first in the Pro Bowl fan voting that closed Monday.

Aubrey, the NFC’s kicker at the last two Pro Bowls, missed two tries from 51 and 59 yards away against the Vikings.

Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers had something to do with that, according to Daniels. He said the Vikings were pressing hard on the edges because Aubrey’s kicking trajectory makes it unlikely to block one from up the middle. Rodgers’ speed off the edge already led to one blocked field goal earlier this season.

“It does something to a kicker from a pressure standpoint,” Daniels said. “Not feeling like you can get follow-through on the football.”

But that aggressive approach also opened the door for the fake. When Aubrey lined up for a 47-yard try in the first quarter, he finished with a 6-yard sprint around the edge for a first down after Dallas’ holder flipped the ball over his helmet to Aubrey.

Outside linebacker Dallas Turner will replace starter and team captain Jonathan Greenard, whose season is over because of a left shoulder injury. Turner, a 2024 first-round pick, has already started eight games this season as both Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel have dealt with injuries.

“He’s been successful in really both spots,” Flores said.

Flores added it’s a “big loss” not having Greenard, who has been one of the NFL’s most efficient pass rushers, according to Pro Football Focus, with a team-leading 47 pressures. But Greenard struggled to finish those plays with sacks. He had three sacks in 12 games.

“He pressured the quarterback,” Flores said. “His physicality in the run game. His leadership. I thought he did a lot of really good things. I think every player … has some plays they’d like to have back. I’m sure he does as well. We talked about some of those.”

Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips commended quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s pocket presence to buy time by stepping up and finding throwing lanes downfield. But he wasn’t as big of a fan of McCarthy’s “Griddy” touchdown celebration during a 1-yard run in the second quarter. McCarthy swung the ball by his ankles as he crossed the goal line. McCarthy said after the game he had done the dance in practice and was told not to do it during the game.