The Minnesota Vikings placed rookie kicker Will Reichard and All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola on injured reserve on Tuesday, forcing a midseason switch at two vital positions for at least the next four games, Dave Campbell of The Associated Press reports.

The Vikings were planning to sign kicker John Parker Romo and long snapper Jake McQuaide as their replacements, according to a person with knowledge of the decisions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contracts were not finalized.

The 27-year-old Romo has never kicked in a regular-season NFL game. He was signed by the Vikings in March but released a week into training camp once Reichard, a sixth-round draft pick out of Alabama, had control of the job.

After stints at Central Arkansas and Tulsa to start his college career, Romo transferred to Virginia Tech. He made all 34 extra points and went 18 for 22 on field goals in 2021, his final season with the Hokies. Romo also has had roster stints in the NFL with Chicago and Detroit. He kicked in 2023 for the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL.

The 36-year-old McQuaide is in his 14th season in the NFL, including 10 with the Rams, first in St. Louis, then in Los Angeles. His last year with the Rams, 2020, was current Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell’s first season as offensive coordinator of the club. Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels was a teammate of McQuaide for two years (2012-13) and later his assistant special teams coach with the Rams (2018-19).

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/theredzoneorg 
      
Don't forget to follow us on Threads at https://www.threads.net/@theredzoneorg 
        
Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/Theredzone.org