Vikings release K Carlson

The promise of a strong leg and the expensive draft capital to acquire him wasn't enough to save rookie kicker Daniel Carlson after he missed three field-goal attempts, including two in overtime, for the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday's 29-29 tie at Green Bay. Minnesota waived Carlson, the kicker it traded up to draft in the fifth round this year, on Monday. "Yeah, it was pretty easy," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said of the decision. Multiple reports say Minnesota is signing free-agent kicker Dan Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, but Zimmer would only say that Bailey is coming in for a physical. "We'll see if we sign him or not," Zimmer said. Regardless of Bailey's status, the Vikings will need a kicker after making the dramatic decision to release Carlson. Minnesota made Carlson the highest-drafted kicker in team history this year and traded a pair of picks to select him with the 167th overall pick in the draft out of Auburn. Carlson missed two field-goal attempts in the preseason in the game after the Vikings released incumbent Kai Forbath. The 6-foot-4 rookie made his only field-goal attempt in Week 1's win against San Francisco at home, but he missed wide right from 48, 49 and 35 yards in Lambeau Field on Sunday against the rival Packers. Carlson's final miss from 35 yards came as time expired in overtime, leading to the tie. "That's life," Zimmer said of the constant kicking issues during his time as Minnesota's coach. "I don't know. It's hard to figure out. You think you got a guy for a while, and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But things happen, I guess." In a corresponding move on Monday, Minnesota signed wide receiver Aldrick Robinson. Robinson, 29, was released by San Francisco in August right before the regular-season roster cutdown date. Robinson had worked out for the Vikings on Sept. 7. "Well, (quarterback Kirk) Cousins was with him before, and he really liked him," Zimmer said. "He's a fast guy, makes some deep ball plays. Kirk throws a great deep ball, as you saw the other day." Robinson's arrival comes after Laquon Treadwell, the Vikings' third receiver, dropped a pair of passes in Sunday's game, including one that ended up in an interception late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings will be Robinson's fifth NFL team in six seasons. Robinson caught 19 of his 48 targets in 16 games for the 49ers last season. "We're going to see how he does, how he performs here in practice and then go from there," Zimmer said of Robinson. said of Robinson. --QB Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to help rally the Vikings from a 20-7 deficit against the Packers. Cousins finished 35 of 48 for 425 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception. --K Daniel Carlson missed field-goal attempts from 48, 49 and 35 yards in Sunday's 29-29 ties with the Green Bay Packers. The rookie, a fifth-round drat pick, was waived on Monday. --WR Adam Thielen had 12 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Packers. The 12 catches tied his career high, also achieved versus the Packers, in 2016. --WR Stefon Diggs had nine catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Packers. --WR Aldrick Robinson was signed. Robinson, 29, was released by San Francisco in August right before the regular-season roster cutdown date. He was in 2011 by the Washington Redskins and spent four seasons with the team. He spent 2015 with the Falcons and 2016 with the 49ers.