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Coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings made a key decision at punter, waiving Australian Oscar Chapman.
The NFL cutdown period did not go the way Oscar Chapman would’ve liked.
The Australian punter was waived Monday by the Minnesota Vikings, some 24 hours before the deadline for teams to reduce their rosters to 53 players.
Chapman’s departure leaves incumbent Ryan Wright, who re-upped his contract in March for one-year, $1.75 million, as the Vikings’ only punter.
The 26-year-old Chapman came to the Vikings as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, aimed at opening the sport to international players.
Why Did the Vikings cut Oscar Chapman?
Chapman had a shaky finish to the preseason, botching a hold on a field goal in Friday’s 23-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans. That certainly didn’t help his case to win the starting job, as the Athletic’s Alec Lewis mentioned in his final Vikings roster projection.
“It doesn’t feel like a stretch to say Wright is the pick here because of his holding ability on PATs and field goals,” Lewis wrote. “(Will) Reichard missed two attempts Friday night with Chapman holding, but converted a 58-yarder in the fourth quarter with Wright doing the job. Perhaps the Vikings could pursue a punter on the waiver wire, but there isn’t much time for that player and Reichard to establish a rapport.”
If Chapman goes unclaimed on waivers, it’s possible he stays in Minnesota. As an International Pathway Program player, Chapman would not count against the 16-player limit on the Vikings’ practice squad.
Where Did Oscar Chapman Play in College?
Chapman spent five seasons at Auburn before signing with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent this spring. He gained notoriety as one of the SEC’s top punters, averaging 43.5 yards per attempt over his career. He attempted 41 punts in 2024, landing 11 inside the 20-yard line.
Vikings special teams coordinator Matt Daniels noted during training camp that Chapman’s experience playing semi-professional Australian Rules football is partly what makes him so effective.
“He can go rugby, he can go end over end, he can go roll out, he can hit bananas, he can spiral it,” Daniels said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “When you have specialty balls like that it gives returners a lot of different problems. When you start getting knuckleballs and banana balls, it’s difficult to track it.”
Did Ryan Wright Win the Vikings’ Punting Job?
It certainly looks that way, but there’s still time for the Vikings to change their minds and look for another punter.
Having been with the Vikings for three consecutive seasons, Wright offers a level of familiarity that’s important at the position. But, as Lewis noted, Wright’s performance has been lacking in key areas.
“If they stick with Wright,” Lewis wrote, “they’ll be running it back with a punter who ranks 40th among 40 qualified punters in percentage of punts where teams take over inside their own 10-yard-line since the beginning of 2023.”
Last season, Wright averaged 46.5 yards on 56 punts.
Coached by Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings kick off the season in primetime on Sept. 8 against the Chicago Bears.