WMU K Palmer Domschke expected healthy for 2026 after surgery, missing most of spring
The kicker had surgery to address a lingering issue from the 2025 season, head coach Lance Taylor said.
Kalamazoo — Western Michigan kicker Palmer Domschke missed the bulk of spring practice following surgery on his right leg, head coach Lance Taylor said Saturday, addressing an apparent knee injury from the past season.
Domschke is expected to recover and rehab to be ready for the 2026 season, Taylor said.
“We don't have a backup plan,” Taylor said. “Palmer's gonna be our kicker. He had an injury last year during the season, coming out of training camp, and he played with that same injury all year, kicked really well for us. Coming in the spring. You know, we felt like we needed to have surgery on it. So he missed most of spring.”
The surgery first became apparent when Domschke appeared at practices with a wrap and a large full-leg brace keeping his right leg — which he kicks with — rigid. Domschke has been walking on the braced leg without crutches of late.
With no other place kicker on the roster, Western Michigan played Saturday’s spring scrimmage without special teams, opting for 4th down conversion attempts and plays to go for 1, 2 or 3 points following a touchdown.
Taylor said the Broncos will look at adding a kicker to the roster over the summer, to protect from any setbacks and to provide needed depth, regardless.
WMU also has true freshman kicker Zak Zeman set to arrive for the fall.
“We're gonna go out and bring some guys in, just like we do at every single position to make sure that one, we're — we do the best job of protecting our roster, protecting the rest of the team, you know, and also bringing in competition to make us all better,” Taylor said. “So we'll be in a good spot, come training camp. We've got a plan. Coach [Dan] Sabock has a plan, and, you know, I feel confident about what we're doing and who we're bringing in. But I really like where Palmer is, just mentally, right now.”
Andrew Graham
As for Domschke, who played through this injury in 2025, going 13-of-14 on field goals and making 40 PATs, Taylor praised the mindset from the redshirt senior kicker, who had previously been limited by injuries in 2023.
While Domschke’s been out, he’s shown off a more serious, mature side, Taylor said.
“I really love his mindset right now,” Taylor said. “Just, you know, he had surgery. We feel like he's going to be fine. He's gonna come back and be healthy for training camp. But just the way he's matured and the mental toughness that he's had has shown a different side of Palmer that I'm really excited about. So I have no doubt that he'll be able to come in and be our starter, be our kicker.”
