No fanbase has a more complicated relationship with kickers than the Minnesota Vikings. For decades, the team’s supporters have experienced their share of heart-wrenching moments involving their kickers, leading to a profound sense of distrust and anxiety every time a crucial kick is on the line. The saga began with Gary Anderson’s missed field goal in 1998, which ultimately cost the Vikings a trip to the Super Bowl. Then came the heartbreaking moments in 2002 when Doug Brien missed two extra points in a regular-season game, followed by Blair Walsh’s infamous wide-left miss during the wild card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. And let’s not forget the disastrous performance by Daniel Carlson, who missed a field goal in overtime during the tie at Lambeau Field. These painful memories are etched in the minds of Vikings fans, and with each new season, it feels as though another kicker could potentially add to this list of mishaps.

This past Sunday, that feeling of dread resurfaced when Will Reichard had an especially tough day on the field. His struggles brought up old, familiar fears for fans who’ve seen similar scenes play out all too often. Reichard, who had already faced some injury concerns this season, found himself at the center of attention once again after missing a 57-yard field goal that left fans questioning his ability and health.

Reichard had previously been sidelined with an injury to his kicking leg’s quadriceps muscle during a game against the Indianapolis Colts, which placed him on injured reserve. This raised some doubts about whether his injury might still be affecting his performance, especially after the miss on a 57-yard attempt. Fans couldn’t help but wonder if his leg wasn’t quite back to full strength, especially considering that Reichard had been able to hit kicks over 60 yards earlier in the season.

However, on Tuesday, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels put those concerns to rest. He provided clarity on Reichard’s health and explained that the miss was simply the result of a mis-hit, not lingering injury issues.

“The 57-yarder, he just got under it. I mean, it was really a good hit, he just kind of got under it a little bit. So it ended up falling short right there. But no, he’s not injured at all. He’s perfectly fine, so there’s no excuses there in terms of injury being the reason why he missed that field goal or missed a 57-yarder, anything like that. He’s perfectly fine and healthy,” Daniels reassured the media.

This news brought a collective sigh of relief to the Vikings’ fanbase, who had been bracing themselves for yet another kicker-related catastrophe. It’s not uncommon for kickers to miss kicks, and sometimes it’s just a matter of mis-hitting the ball, which can happen from time to time. Knowing that Reichard is fully healthy and ready to continue his duties as the Vikings’ kicker gives fans hope that the team is moving past the kicking woes that have plagued them in the past.

However, Reichard’s struggles didn’t stop with the 57-yarder. He also missed a 43-yard field goal, which further added to the unease. But again, Daniels provided insight into this miss, explaining that it was simply a miscalculation in terms of Reichard trusting his line. According to Daniels, Reichard felt good about the hit, but the ball ended up veering slightly due to a natural draw he tends to put on his kicks.

“And then on the 43-yarder, he just got to kind of trust his line. He felt good about the hit, kind of talking to him after it happened. It just ended up drawing a little bit on him. And he has a natural draw on all the balls that he does hit. He just got to trust that line right there, understand where he’s headed at, coming off that left hash and feel good about it. But it was a nice, clean hit. It just kind of drew a little bit at the last second. His leg is fine. There’s no issue there,” Daniels explained.

While there are still some lingering questions about the consistency of the Vikings’ kicking game, hearing from Daniels has certainly alleviated some of the tension that surrounded Reichard’s performance. Time will tell whether any further issues will arise, but for now, the situation feels much more stable than it did after the tough outing on Sunday. Vikings fans, who are no strangers to kicker-induced anxiety, can only hope that Reichard continues to perform at a high level and help the team in their quest for a successful finish to the season. The kicker position may always carry a bit of uncertainty for Minnesota fans, but for now, it appears Reichard is on the mend and ready to prove that he can be a reliable asset for the team moving forward.