EAGAN, Minn. – All right, Mr. Wright.
Vikings punter Ryan Wright punted 10 times in Minnesota's 24-16 win at Miami Sunday, averaging 44.1 yards (43.9 net) per boot.
Wright's most impressive punt of the day occurred in the first quarter after the Vikings went three-and-out from deep in their own territory.
Typically, punting from one's 7-yard line would yield pretty favorable field position for the opponent. Not when Wright is back there, though.
The rookie got off a whopping 73-yard punt to the Miami 20, and Josh Metellus tackled Tyreek Hill for a loss of 2.
Wright's performance against the Dolphins earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday.
Wright's previous career-long punt was 58 yards, which he did at Philadelphia and against Detroit.
Sunday's 73-yarder is tied with Atlanta's Bradley Pinion for the NFL's second longest punt this season. Tommy Townsend (Chiefs) and Mitch Wishnowsky (49ers) have each logged a 74-yard punt.
Wright becomes the second Viking this month to win NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, following Greg Joseph's London performance against the Saints. Before Joseph, the most recent Viking was running back/return specialist Kene Nwangwu, who received the honor after a big Week 9 performance in Baltimore last season.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell credited Wright and the entire special teams for helping Minnesota improve to 5-1 before this week's bye.
"He worked way too much, obviously, with the 10 punts, but he got himself a game ball," O'Connell said postgame.
