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Vikings Work Out Three Punters, Sign Familiar Name
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- Vikings Work Out Three Punters, Sign Familiar Name
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The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a hard-fought victory against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Now 2-0 through two weeks, they hold a commanding position in the NFC North and plan to have starting quarterback Kyler Murray back for Week 3. Unfortunately, not all injury updates this week are as uplifting as Murray's.
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The Vikings are without their 1A running back, Jordan Mason , for at least three more weeks. To pour salt on the wound, undrafted rookie punter Brett Thorson is dealing with a hamstring injury that he suffered Sunday in Chicago , and he seemingly won't be available either.
Thorson injury forces MN Vikings to sign familiar punter
That's why it was not surprising when word got out that the Vikings were working out three different punters this week — Matt Haack , Jack Stonehouse and former All-Pro Johnny Hekker — in case Thorson isn't available for Week 3.
Haack is an Iowa native who has spent parts of nine seasons in the NFL. Last year he punted seven games for the Arizona Cardinals . Rookie Jack Stonehouse was First Team All-ACC at Syracuse last year after he transferred from Missouri.
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But before we could get that article posted, the Vikings made their move, signing the familiar name of the bunch.
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
The #Vikings are signing four-time Pro Bowl P Johnny Hekker, sources say. Hekker is back with the team after being released in August.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 22, 2026
Hekker always made the most sense, being that he already has familiarity with the organization and even more time spent with special teams coordinator Matt Daniels.
A four-time Pro Bowler and four-time First-Team All-Pro, Hekker has played 229 NFL games with a career average of 46.8 yards per punt. Last season in Tennessee, he punted 78 times for a 46.8-yard average with 22 boots inside the 20 .
Thorson ripped off a 62-yarder, landed two of his six punts inside the 20 and averaged 49.5 yards per boot on Sunday against the Bears. In other words, there's a reason why he beat out Hekker in training camp.
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