EAGAN, Minn. – Dan Bailey missed three field goals and an extra point in the Minnesota Vikings’ 26-14 loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, and as of Wednesday, the team had yet to sign a new kicker.
Coach Mike Zimmer was lukewarm in his commitment to keep the 32-year-old kicker in place during Minnesota’s Week 15 game against rival Chicago, and replied “we’ll see” when asked. if Bailey will kick off on Sunday and if the team plans to add some more kickers this week.
Bailey’s four fouls against the Bucs cost the Vikings 10 points. Zimmer noted his disappointment after the game, but on Wednesday reiterated that the mistakes of other players also contributed to the loss.
“I don’t think we have a kicker we can’t depend on,” Zimmer said. “There are all kinds of guys who make mistakes throughout the game. But that’s just part of life, part of the momentum. There are streams and flows in every game.”
According to the thread of NFL transactions, the Vikings brought free agent kicker Chandler Catanzaro on Tuesday, the same day the team released kicker Tristan Vizcaino from the training squad and coached Taylor Bertolet, who has been on and off Carolina’s roster since October. 24.
Catanzaro has appeared in 77 NFL games since 2014, but hasn’t suffered a game since 2018. He spent part of the offseason with the New York Giants before being released on Aug. 17.
Although the Vikings have not made any signings, either free agent could be available on Sunday if they complete five days of COVID-19 testing before being eligible to play on the sixth day. They both began testing protocol on Tuesday.
According to an updated protocol note sent from the league office to the teams on Tuesday, “a free agent player who begins the entrance tests on Tuesday, December 15 may choose to join the team on Sunday, December 20. “This player will be able to play in his new club ‘s Sunday, December 20 match, however, he may not interact with the team before that date.”
A day after the loss, Zimmer said he planned to talk to Bailey on Tuesday or Wednesday. When asked how he would assess Bailey’s confidence and ability to leave two tough exits behind and kick against the Bears, Zimmer noted that he should consider all of the shooter’s work before making a decision.
Although Bailey missed more field goals (4) in weeks 13-14 than he had in his first 11 games this year, the shooter was 10 of 12 (83%) from goal and made 26 of 27 additional points (96%) in weeks 1-12.
Bailey entered Week 14 as the sixth most accurate scorer in NFL history.
“You have to look at history, you have to look at past performances, you have to look at the person,” Zimmer said Monday. “This guy is a solid guy.
“We are in the performance business, and these last two weeks have not been good. Like I said [Sunday], it’s about cutting out all those who made mistakes yesterday, we’d all be here, myself included. We will go with our gut and do what we believe and believe in whatever decision we make. That’s all you can do. “