Vikings release kicker Blair Walsh, add Kai Forbath

The Blair Walsh era is curtains in Minnesota.

NFL Media's Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that the Vikings have released their embattled kicker after another ugly performance in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Redskins. The team later confirmed the move.

It didn't take long for Minnesota to find Walsh's replacement. The Vikings signed journeyman kicker Kai Forbath Wednesday, the team announced.

"It was just something felt we needed to do," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday on the kicking change.

After quarterback Sam Bradford and the Vikings ripped off 20 unanswered points against Washington, Walsh flubbed an extra point just before the half, keeping Washington within striking distance at 20-14. It was just the latest mistake in a string of high-profile gaffes for the fifth-year veteran.

Walsh has missed an NFL-high four extra points this year along with four field goals. His troubles began last season, of course, when the kicker botched a 27-yard field goal attempt with 22 seconds left to hand the Seattle Seahawks a 10-9 win in the NFC wild-card round.

That nationally televised error came in sub-zero weather that marked the third-coldest game in NFL history. Walsh struggled to warm up since -- troubles that ultimately cost him a job.