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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Explore Special Teams Options with Kaare Vedvik Against Seahawks

MINNEAPOLIS — The Vikings explored their options on special teams Sunday night in their second preseason game of 2019.

A week after trading to acquire punter/kicker Kaare Vedvik from Baltimore, Minnesota utilized the Norway native on kickoffs, punts and an extra point in a 25-19 win over Seattle.

"Overall, I'm happy. We got out there, and I felt the operations were good," Vedvik said. "We split the reps accordingly, and I got the PATs and the field goals from the third quarter on out. I got in there, [Chad] Beebe is money with the hold, and all I've got to do is kick it straight.

Vedvik handled all five of Minnesota's kickoffs, knocking his first attempt through the back of the end zone. He recorded touchbacks on two of the five kickoffs in his U.S. Bank Stadium debut.

The Seahawks had returns of 21, 25 and 41 yards on the three kickoffs that did not result in touchbacks.

"I thought he did well," Head Coach Mike Zimmer said. "He kicked the ball deep, had the one extra point, and then he punted OK, so we'll just keep looking at him and see where we're at from there. We won't make a decision today."

View game action images as the Vikings take on the Seattle Seahawks at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

Vedvik also punted three times with a long of 54 yards. He averaged 46.7 gross yards per punt, but the net average was 34.7. His first punt netted 38, and that was completely fine with the Vikings because it forced a fair catch at the Seahawks 7-yard line.

It appeared as if the net on the 54-yard offering was going to take a hit from a 36-yard return by David Moore, but a holding penalty was called on Tre Flowers during the return.

A 48-yarder in the second half netted 31.

"You can always hit it better, just make some small adjustments, but we'll come back this week and keep working on it," Vedvik said. "It's kind of like what you do every day. I don't put much thought into the surroundings and everything. I just focus on what I do and do it to the best of my ability, try to get my job done."

Incumbent veteran Dan Bailey was true on a 24-yard field goal for Minnesota's first points of the evening and also made an extra point.

"We had a pretty good game plan for everybody as a unit," Bailey said. "Things can change and things do change, but we had a good plan, as far as getting everybody reps. It ended up working out pretty good. I was happy to get a couple of kicks there in the first half."

Matt Wile handled the Vikings final punt of the evening with 16 seconds left in the game. He placed a 35-yarder at the Seattle 11. It was returned 2 yards.

Chad Beebe handled the holding duties on the field goal and the two extra points.

"Chad's great. Just a good dude in general, and whatever he can do to help is kind of his attitude, which is great," Bailey said. "He's confident back there catching the ball. It's been good. We're just trying to figure out the operation."

Bailey also said he's been impressed by Vedvik's first week in the organization.

"He's definitely a talented guy, a strong leg, and a good attitude, too," Bailey said. "He's a pro. That's obviously what anyone would want on their team. It's been a positive experience for me. I've said before, you're always competing, so it's been good. I think he fits in just fine."

The Vikings will host the Cardinals at noon Saturday.

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