NFL Saturday roundup: Rookie kicker from Alabama connects from long distance for Vikings

Minnesota kicker Will Reichard concluded his first NFL preseason on Saturday by scoring 14 points in the Minnesota Vikings’ 26-3 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The rookie from Alabama made two extra points and connected on field goals of 31, 33, 20 and 57 yards.

In the NFL’s other preseason games on Saturday:

· Undrafted rookie running back Frank Gore Jr. ran for 101 yards and one touchdown for Buffalo, but undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Plummer threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina in the Panthers’ 31-26 victory over the Bills.

· Green Bay and Baltimore combined for 212 passing yards in a game that featured a 28-yard loss on a sack, but the Packers prevailed with 193 rushing yards in a 30-7 victory over the Ravens.

· The Pittsburgh Steelers sacked Detroit quarterback Hendon Herndon five times and intercepted him once, but he also ran for 93 yards on 10 carries and threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass as the Lions rallied for a 24-17 victory.

· The Houston Texans stopped a 2-point conversion run with 3:15 to play after Los Angeles Rams running back Zach Evans’ second touchdown of the game for a 17-15 victory.

· Dallas quarterback Trey Lance threw for 323 yards and one touchdown and ran for 90 yards and another score, but he also threw five interceptions, including one from the Los Angeles 20-yard line on the game’s final snap, as the Chargers beat the Cowboys 26-19.

· Israel Abanikanda ran 45 yards for the game’s only touchdown with 14:03 left in the first half to send the New York Jets to a 10-6 victory over the New York Giants.

· A 79-yard punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Dee Eskridge, a 56-yard TD run by running back Kenny McIntosh and a 58-yard field goal by Jason Myers helped the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Cleveland Browns 37-33.

In regular-season play, only one field goal in Minnesota history has been longer than 56 yards – a 61-yarder by Greg Joseph on the final snap of a 27-24 victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 24, 2022.

While becoming the NCAA FBS career scoring leader with the Crimson Tide, Reichard’s longest field goal had covered 52 yards. With 2:15 left in the fourth quarter against Philadelphia, the rookie exceeded that by 5 yards in his third NFL preseason game.

“It was a good op for Will,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “He had had some kickoffs and things like that, but hadn’t really done a whole lot there in the second half, so to give him a swing and him walk out there and just hit a 57-yarder like it’s nothing. I’m trying to remember the last time I saw him miss a kick. He’s been ultra-consistent.

“We were throwing different situational drills at him throughout training camp and really testing our team on some of those kind of will-I-go-for-it, will-I-punt, will-I-kick type of things where he doesn’t really know, and he responded in those moments, kicked really well in the games, and, ultimately, I think he’s got a lot of confidence going into the regular season, which is what we wanted.”

Reichard’s first preseason field-goal attempt for the Vikings was blocked. But he came back in that game to kick a 38-yard field goal on the final snap to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 24-23 on Aug. 10.

Reichard made field goals of 41 and 38 yards and kicked three extra points for the second game in a row as Minnesota defeated the Cleveland Browns 27-12 on Aug. 17.

A former Hoover High School standout, Reichard joined the Vikings as the first kicker chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft at No. 203.

After completing the preseason undefeated, the Vikings move to regular-season play, which will kick off against the New York Giants at noon CDT Sept. 8.

Other players from Alabama high schools and colleges involved in Saturday’s preseason games included:

Carolina Panthers 31, Buffalo Bills 26

· Bills guard Gunner Britton (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Derrick Brown (Auburn) started at defensive end for the Panthers. Brown made one tackle.

· Panthers linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford) did not play.

· Panthers safety Rudy Ford (New Hope, Auburn) led Carolina with six tackles.

· Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) started at left offensive tackle for the Bills.

· Kareem Jackson (Alabama) started at safety for the Bills. Jackson made three tackles and broke up a pass.

· Panthers quarterback Michael Jackson (Spain Park) did not play. Carolina acquired Jackson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.

· Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Jordan Matthews (Madison Academy) started at tight end for the Panthers. Matthews had three receptions for 21 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown catch with 8:12 left in the first quarter to cap Carolina’s first series. The touchdown was the first for Matthews in an NFL preseason, regular-season or playoff game since Jan. 13, 2019, when he caught a 37-yard TD pass from quarterback Nick Foles in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 20-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the NFC playoffs.

· Bills linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) did not play.

· Panthers defensive end LaBryan Ray (James Clemens, Alabama) made one tackle.

· A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson made one tackle.

· Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Bills. Shavers had two receptions for 15 yards.

· Javon Solomon (Troy) started at defensive end for the Bills. Solomon made one tackle on defense and one tackle on special teams.

· Panthers linebacker Chandler Wooten (Auburn) made four tackles.

· Bryce Young (Alabama) started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 6-of-8 passes for 70 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions on Carolina’s opening series. Young took a seat for the day after connecting with tight end Jordan Matthews on an 8-yard TD pass with 8:12 left in the first quarter.

Detroit Lions 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 17

· Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) made three tackles.

· Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (Alabama) did not play.

· Lions defensive back Brian Branch (Alabama) did not play.

· Lions cornerback Carlton Davis (Auburn) did not play.

· Steelers offensive lineman TyKeem Doss (Aliceville) did not record any stats.

· Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at free safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick did not record any stats.

· Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) did not play.

· Steelers cornerback Zyon Gilbert (Jeff Davis) tied for the team lead with eight tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers. Harris had a 5-yard run.

· Lions defensive lineman Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Steelers linebacker Jeremiah Moon (Hoover) did not play.

· Steelers running back La’Mical Perine (Theodore) ran for 16 yards and one touchdown on six carries. Perine scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run as Pittsburgh took a 14-0 lead with 6:05 left in the first quarter.

· George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had two receptions for 26 yards – one for 32 yards and one for minus-6.

· Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens) had a 10-yard reception.

· Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (Alabama) did not play.

Green Bay Packers, 30, Baltimore Ravens 7

· Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama) started at cornerback for the Ravens. Armour-Davis made four tackles.

· Packers kicker Anders Carlson (Auburn) made a 54-yard field goal and two extra points, but he missed to the right on a 32-yard field-goal attempt. Carlson is in a competition to keep his job as Green Bay’s kicker against Greg Joseph, who made field goals from 36 and 55 yards and one extra point.

· Malik Cunningham (Park Crossing) started at wide receiver for the Ravens. Cunningham had a 6-yard reception.

· Ravens guard Darrian Dalcourt (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Grant DuBose (Park Crossing) started at wide receiver for the Packers. DuBose was targeted once but not have a reception.

· Ravens running back Derrick Henry (Alabama) did not play.

· Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) did not play.

· Ravens safety Eddie Jackson (Alabama) did not play.

· Packers running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) did not play.

· Ravens guard Tashawn Manning (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Ravens cornerback Christian Matthew (Samford) made one tackle.

· Packers safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama) did not play.

· Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce (Daphne, Samford) did not play.

· Kadeem Telfort (UAB) started at left offensive tackle for the Packers.

· Packers wide receiver Jalen Wayne (Spanish Fort, South Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Colby Wooden (Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Packers. Wooden made two tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

Houston Texans 17, Los Angeles Rams 15

· Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) did not play.

· Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) did not play.

· Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (Alabama A&M) did not play.

· Rams tight end Miller Forristall (Alabama) had two receptions for 10 yards.

· Texans linebacker Christian Harris (Alabama) did not play.

· Marcus Harris (Park Crossing, Auburn) started at defensive tackle for the Texans. Harris made two tackles, registered one quarterback hit and broke up one pass.

· Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (Monroe County, Alabama State) did not play.

· Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) did not play.

· John Metchie III (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Texans. Metchie had two receptions for 21 yards.

· Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o (Alabama) did not play.

· Texans safety Jimmie Ward (Davidson) did not play.

· Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) did not play.

· Kilian Zierer (Auburn) started left offensive tackle for the Texans.

Minnesota Vikings 26, Philadelphia Eagles 3

· Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) did not play.

· Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) did not play.

· Eagles guard Landon Dickerson (Alabama) did not play.

· Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) did not play.

· Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama) did not play.

· Eagles cornerback Josh Jobe (Alabama) made three tackles.

· Eagles outside linebacker Terrell Lewis (Alabama) made three tackles.

· Vikings running back DeWayne McBride (UAB) ran for 34 yards on 11 carries and caught two passes for 27 yards.

· Bobby McCain (Oxford) started at safety for the Vikings. McCain made two tackles.

· Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (Spain Park) did not play.

· Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) made four tackles.

· Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama) did not play.

· Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen (Alabama) did not play.

· Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner (Alabama) did not play.

· Eagles wide receiver Austin Watkins (UAB) was targeted once but did not have a reception.

Los Angeles Chargers 26, Dallas Cowboys 19

· Chargers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) did not play.

· Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama) did not play.

· Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

· A.J. Finley (St. Paul’s Episcopal) started at safety for the Chargers. Finley made three tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.

· Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps for six punts, two field goals and two extra points.

· Cowboys defensive end Carl Lawson (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Alex Leatherwood (Alabama) started at left offensive tackle for the Chargers.

· Shane Lee (Alabama) started at linebacker for the Chargers. Lee made five tackles on defense and one on special teams.

· Justin Rogers (Auburn) started at defensive end for the Cowboys. Rogers made one tackle and broke up one pass.

· Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 50.0 yards on six punts with a 44.0-yard net. Scott’s final two punts pinned Dallas at its 8- and 10-yard lines in the fourth quarter.

· Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) did not play.

· Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (Troy) did not play.

· Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams (Lee-Montgomery) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

New York Jets 10, New York Giants 6

· Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (Saraland) did not play.

· Jets wide receiver Tyler Harrell (Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Jaylen Key (UAB/Alabama) started at safety for the Jets. Key made four tackles.

· Giants linebacker Trey Kiser (South Alabama) made one tackle.

· Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley (Theodore, Alabama) did not play.

· Evan Neal (Alabama) started at right offensive tackle for the Giants. Neal played for the first time since an ankle injury caused him to miss the final eight games of the 2023 season, and team announced in the first half of Saturday night’s game that Neal would be questionable to return with an ankle injury.

· Giants defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Central-Phenix City) did not play.

· Jets tight end Lincoln Sefcik (South Alabama) had a 12-yard reception.

· Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood (Auburn) did not play.

· Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (Auburn) did not play.

· Jets linebacker Quincy Williams (Wenonah) did not play.

· Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama) did not play.

Seattle Seahawks 37, Cleveland Browns 33

· Browns cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama) did not play.

· Browns guard Javon Cohen (Central-Phenix City, Alabama) did not record any stats.

· Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (Alabama) did not play.

· Mohamoud Diabate (Auburn High) started at linebacker for the Browns. Diabate made three tackles and recorded one sack.

· Browns defensive back Chris Edmonds (Samford) made four tackles on defense, recorded one tackle for loss and had two tackles on special teams.

· Jerome Ford (Alabama) started at running back for the Browns. Ford ran for 11 yards on three carries.

· Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall (Auburn) did not record any stats.

· Seahawks cornerback DJ James (Spanish Fort, Auburn) made six tackles and recorded one sack, the first as a pro for the sixth-round rookie.

· Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) did not play.

· Seahawks nose tackle Buddha Jones (Troy) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (Jackson, Auburn) made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.

· Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama) recorded one sack.

· Seahawks outside linebacker Jamie Sheriff (South Alabama) made three tackles, recorded two sacks and registered three quarterback hits.

· Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) started at defensive end for the Browns. Smith did not record any stats.

· Browns defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (Alabama) did not play.

· Browns linebacker Nathaniel Watson (Maplesville) did not play.

· Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (Alabama) did not play.

· Jameis Winston (Hueytown) started at quarterback for the Browns. Winston completed 6-of-9 passes for 63 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and had a 6-yard run.

· Browns defensive end Alex Wright (Elba, UAB) did not play.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.