Vikings lose All-Pro long snapper DePaola for at least a month, might need a sub for kicker Reichard

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Injuries to All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola and rookie kicker Will Reichard had the Minnesota Vikings assessing their options Monday for temporary replacements in an midseason disruption to what has been one of the NFL' s most productive kicking operations.

DePaola will have minor surgery on his hand and need to be placed on short-term injured reserve, coach Kevin O'Connell said. Reichard has a quadriceps injury that was being evaluated by the medical staff, with his availability for the next game still being determined and a possibility he'll need a sub too.

DePaola, who was a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past two years and also an AP All-Pro pick for 2023, hasn't missed a game since joining the Vikings (6-2) midway through the 2020 season. The 37-year-old must miss a minimum of four games on IR.

Reichard, the team's sixth-round draft pick out of Alabama, was 14 for 14 on field goals and 20 for 20 on extra points over the first seven games. He pulled a 53-yard try wide right and hit a 31-yard attempt off the right upright in the second quarter Sunday against Indianapolis, misses the Vikings believed were affected by the injury he aggravated at some point in the first half.

“You’d love to have him continue on the fabulous trajectory he’s been on really since he arrived here,” O’Connell said. “These things come up. We’ll go through the process here of making sure we put together the best plan to make sure we have him full and doing what he’s doing all season long really up until last night.”

Reichard's field goal rate (94.9%) trails only Pittsburgh's Chris Boswell and Washington's Austin Seibert in the league among kickers with at least 15 attempts. Reichard is one of four kickers with at least 20 attempts to make every extra point this season.

With DePaola's help, Vikings punter Ryan Wright also ranks second in the NFL with 53.6% of his attempts landing inside the 20-yard line.

O'Connell also announced that left tackle Christian Darrisaw was scheduled for surgery Monday to repair the ACL in his left knee after suffering the season-ending injury in the game on Oct. 24.

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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Vikings place-kicker Will Reichard (16) boots a field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

FILE -Minnesota Vikings long snapper Andrew DePaola stands on the field before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Minneapolis. Injuries to All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola and rookie kicker Will Reichard had the Minnesota Vikings assessing their options Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 for temporary replacements in an midseason disruption to what has been one of the NFL's most productive kicking operations. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.

Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.

“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”

During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.

He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.

“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”

While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.

Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.

“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”

Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.

Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.

“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”

He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)