The Falcons had Kicker John Parker Romo travel all the way to Minnesota for the game against the Vikings. And the kicker didn’t disappoint. That said, the team still has its primary kicker, Younghoe Koo, on the roster. After benching the Falcons player, the team hasn’t commented on the situation yet. However, after Romo’s debut, the coach had high words of praise for the kicker

He had five field goals in the game against the Vikings. As Terrin Waack reported, “Falcons head coach Raheem Morris on kicker Parker Romo: “He stepped up tonight. … You worry about moving forward when you move forward tomorrow.” It is still unclear whether the new kicker will have the opportunity to secure the job long-term or if Koo’s benching is temporary.

The South Korean player was benched after missing a game-tying 44-yard field goal in the last few seconds of the Falcons’ 23-20 Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The player struggled last season while dealing with a hip injury, making just 73.5% of his field goals. That was his worst record since 2017, when he converted only 50% of his kicks in four games with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was dropped from the Vikings game following his 44-yard field goal miss in Atlanta’s 23-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Raheem Morris didn’t sugarcoat things after announcing that Parker Romo would be replacing him.

 “You either make it or you don’t, and we’ve got to have guys in a position to make them. And there’s no real coaching points there. Obviously, there’s kicking aspects and there’s points of those coaching things that they want to do and all those things. But for us, from a fan standpoint, a coach’s standpoint, everything else, you either make them or you don’t,” he said.

Koo had no defense for himself. “We’ve been in this situation so many times,” the South Korean said Monday. “The frustration just came out of just disappointment in myself and knowing that I know I’m better than that. On top of that, I let the guys down.” Well, his replacement didn’t.

Parker Romo lived up to the hopes of Falcons’ special teams coordinator

Romo was elevated from the practice squad, and his field goals are tied for the second most a Falcons kicker has made in a game. The player last saw game action with the Vikings in Week 13 of last season. Romo’s only regular-season experience came last year with the Vikings, where he appeared in four games and went 11-of-12 on field goals, including a long of 55 yards. That was enough to impress the Falcons’ special teams coordinator, Marquice Williams.

“He came into a situation last year when he took over for (Vikings Kicker) Will Reichard in Minnesota and he did a great job,” Williams said. “So, his leg strength, his experience. I like his attitude. I like his poise.”

His last stint was with the Patriots, where he competed with rookie Andy Borregales for the kicking job. As the latter won the job, Romo was released in the team’s final roster cuts. Now, he has a chance to replace Koo for good.