A Head-to-Head Vikings Roster Battle Looks Like it Could Come Down to Tonight’s Game

Who is going to be punting the ball for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026?

The head-to-head Vikings roster battle sees a pair of players competing for a single spot. Veteran Johnny Hekker is the favorite as somebody who has accomplished a lot in his years. Rookie Brett Thorson is trying to prove capable of holding down the job. Who is going to get the nod?

To begin, consider some the favorite’s basic stats from the 2025 season:

Johnny Hekker: 46.8 Y/P, 40.3 NY/P, 7 TBs (9%), and 22 IN20 (28.2%)

Put simply, those numbers are quite poor. Gone are the days, perhaps, where Hekker was an annual All Pro at punter. He won the award four times for the first team and two times for the second team, getting all of these distinctions between 2013 and 2018. In the NFL, that’s a lifetime ago.

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Nov 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans punter Johnny Hekker (3) punts the ball against the Houston Texans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Brett Thorson has been a promising punter in recent seasons, albeit at the college level. His great flaw has been his experience as a holder on field goal, or lack thereof.

At Georgia, all Thorson did was launch the ball. Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels has praised Thorson for having soft hands. How much of a difference is there between holding in practice and holding in the clutch moment of a game? Hekker seems supremely unlikely to struggle in this facet of the game and Minnesota doesn’t exactly have a flawless history here.

A clean, automatic field goal operation is to be coveted; ensure the kicker is always working with a crisp snap and clean hold. In theory, the Vikings’ hard-earned wisdom will weigh into the decision making.

Thorson has seen three preseason punts dropped inside the 20-yard line. He’s averaging 44.8 yards per punt within five opportunities. His longest punt of the preseason has gone for 50 yards.

Meanwhile, Hekker is averaging 46.3 yards per punt across his six opportunities while dropping a trio of his half dozen inside the 20. His longest punt has gone for 65 yards.

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Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs punter Brett Thorson (92) punts the ball to the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Back in the 2022 offseason, the Vikings conducted a punter battle between veteran Jordan Berry and rookie UDFA Ryan Wright. In the end, the young fella won, securing the P1 job for four seasons before landing a nice payday with the Saints earlier in the 2026 offseason.

Opting for a similar path would feature Brett Thorson coming out on top. He can make his case for being that guy with a strong third preseason game, a reality that needs to include punting and holding. Even a small mistake would likely doom his chance of overcoming the favorite.

Kickoff tonight is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.