Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; General view of an Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Johnny Hekker Could Be the Odd Man Out as Vikings’ Rookie Punter Makes a Strong Case 1
Johnny Hekker has spent most of his career being the safe choice. Six All-Pro selections, more than 1,000 career punts and 14 seasons of NFL experience will do that, however, the Minnesota Vikings newest punter battle may be asking a different question: does the Vikings need Hekker’s experience, or should they bet on Brett Thorson’s upside?
That decision suddenly looks far less straightforward. Thorson won the Ray Guy Award at Georgia and has flashed enough during the preseason to stay firmly in the race. Now, one roster projection has the rookie beating the veteran for the only punter job.
Brett Thorson Challenges Johnny Hekker For Vikings Punter Job
On August 29, 2026, the Vikings reporter, Alec Lewis, projected the Vikings to keep Thorson over Hekker on his final 53-man roster prediction. Lewis acknowledged the gamble involved, particularly with Thorson’s limited experience holding for field goals, but believes the rookie’s long-term upside could make the risk worthwhile.
“That, paired with Thorson’s upside as the former Ray Guy Award winner at the University of Georgia, keeps the 26-year-old Australian viable. Minnesota would be taking a risk on Thorson’s holding ability. The reward could be a talented punter for the future.”
In @alec_lewis final 53 man roster prediction, he has the #Vikings keeping Brett Thorson over Johnny Hekker:
“That, paired with Thorson’s upside as the former Ray Guy Award winner at the University of Georgia, keeps the 26-year-old Australian viable. Minnesota would be taking a… pic.twitter.com/NlNSDIxVKC
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 29, 2026
The numbers make this battle fascinating. Hekker averaged 46.8 yards per punt in 2025, except his 40.3-yard net average was the third-lowest of his career. He is also entering his age-36 season. The veteran still has plenty of leg, though, and his preseason work has included a 65-yard punt while averaging 46.3 yards across six attempts.
Thorson, meanwhile, has been making his case with fewer opportunities. He has averaged 44.8 yards across five preseason punts, with three touchdowns inside the 20 and a long of 50 yards. Those numbers don’t scream runaway winner, but give Minnesota something to think about.
Then comes the tricky part: holding. Thorson rarely had to handle that responsibility at Georgia, making every field-goal operation a potential pressure point. Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels has praised the rookie’s soft hands; however, performing that job in a meaningful NFL game is a completely different test.
Hekker brings no such uncertainty. He has been doing the job for years and has never missed a game in his NFL career. He also already knows head coach Kevin O’Connell and Daniels from their time together with the Rams.
Still, the Vikings have taken this path before. In 2022, rookie Ryan Wright beat veteran Jordan Berry for the punting job and held it for four seasons. Thorson now has a chance to follow that blueprint.
If the rookie handles both punting and holding cleanly, the Vikings could decide the future is more valuable than the résumé. And suddenly, Hekker’s legendary career may not be enough to save his roster spot.