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Minnesota Vikings End Special Teams Competition
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- Minnesota Vikings End Special Teams Competition
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
There were very few prominent position battles left going into the final week of the preseason . The Minnesota Vikings still needed to decide which of their two punters was going to be the last one standing.
Ryan Wright is entering his third professional season. Undrafted rookie Oscar Chapman has been trying to unseat him. It seemed as though the most straightforward way for him to do so was by developing as an exceptional holder.
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Unfortunately, at least with the Vikings, the dream is now dead.
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Oscar Chapman waived by MN Vikings, Ryan Wright wins job
After playing for Auburn at the collegiate level, the Minnesota Vikings were intrigued enough by Oscar Chapman to let him try and unseat current punter Ryan Wright. Despite Chapman, who is from Australia, carrying an International Player Pathway exemption he was deemed not worth hanging onto.
Because of his status as an international player, Chapman could be held as an additional player beyond traditional limits to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. He didn't need to make the 53-man roster, but now is out of the organization entirely.
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Plenty was made of Chapman's need to develop trust with second-year kicker Will Reichard. Working as a new holder, he had to quickly show that the Minnesota kicking unit was going to operate smoothly. Unfortunately a bad hold against the Tennessee Titans did him in.
The exact moment Oscar Chapman lost the punting competition.
Fully expect Vikings P Ryan Wright to win the battle now and make the 53-man roster.
pic.twitter.com/Zf01CbvEF3— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 23, 2025
Ryan Wright, barring an unexpected addition, will now serve as the Vikings punter for the fourth straight year. Last year Wright landed 48.2% of his punts inside the 20-yard-line. That is a new career-high and substantially better than the 28.8% from 2023.
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Wright's yards per punt dropped to 46.5 yards last season though, and that represents a new career-low. His 40.5 net punt yards also are a bottoming out. There were far too many touchbacks (11.9%) in 2023, but the 2024 mark (8.9%) still is well off from his 1.4% touchback rate as a rookie.
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Confusing decision on Chapman for MN Vikings
Given the international exemption, it's at least a little odd the Vikings didn't just stash Chapman on the practice squad. If holding was truly the issue, that seems like something they could have worked on developing trust and chemistry throughout the season.
Chapman has a unique punting style that often presents odd rotation patterns for return men to key in on. He appeared to be a superior punter in comparison to Wright, and Minnesota has seen the incumbents skills decline the past two years.
PUNT APPRECIATION POST.
This one goes in the books as a 74-yarder for
Oscar Chapman. @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/zAKptYqVtT— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 30, 2023
This represents the second-straight season in which the Minnesota Vikings have brought in punting competition for Wright. Last year he bested Seth Vernon to hang onto the job.
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Maybe Minnesota will regret this move, or choose to bring Chapman back down the road. At that point though, it may be too late with someone else jumping at the opportunity.
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