NFL Player News
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Anders Carlson K | NYJ
Packers' Anders Carlson: Perfect in opener
Carlson made two field goals and an extra point in Saturday's preseason opener against the Browns.
Accuracy was an issue for Carlson in his rookie season but not Saturday, as he made field goals from 46 and 33 yards as well as his lone extra-point attempt. Carlson remains locked in a competition with Greg Joseph for Green Bay's kicker job, and although the latter has fared a bit better during training camp, Carlson still has the advantage of having been selected by Green Bay in the sixth round of the 2023 draft.
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Charlie Smyth K | NO
Saints' Charlie Smyth: Hits game-winner in preseason debut
Smyth converted his lone field-goal atttempt during Saturday's 16-14 victory over Arizona.
Smyth got his first and only chance for a field goal with eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, and he did not disappoint, hitting a 37-yarder to seal the victory for New Orleans. The 22-year-old first got on the field for the opening kickoff of the second half, as returning starter Blake Grupe handled the kicking duties in the first half. However, Grupe did step back in for the team's only point-after attempt of the second half, and he went 2-for-2 on field-goal tries for the game. Smyth joined New Orleans through the NFL's International Player Pathway by way of Ireland, and he's likely still considered a longshot to unseat Grupe as the Saints' starting kicker this preseason. His next opportunity will come in Sunday's road contest against the 49ers.
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Eddy Pineiro K | SF
Panthers' Eddy Pineiro: Set to reprise starting job
The Panthers waived undrafted rookie Harrison Mevis on Sunday, leaving Pineiro as the only kicker on the team's roster, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
While Pineiro was not really expected to lose his job to Mevis this offseason, the latter's departure should clear up any questions about this position for Carolina heading into the regular season. The veteran missed the final two games of the 2023 campaign with a hamstring injury, but he performed well over his 15 regular-season appearances, converting 25 of 29 field-goal attempts and 17 of 20 PATs. Pineiro is entering the final season of a two-year, $4.1 million deal with the Panthers.
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Harrison Mevis K | LAR
Harrison Mevis: Waived by Carolina
Mevis was waived by the Panthers on Sunday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
The kicker signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in April after making 24 of 30 field goal attempts at Missouri last year, including a 61-yard conversion that set an SEC record. Mevis had a chance to challenge Eddy Pineiro, Carolina's kicker the last two seasons, but Pineiro remains on the roster.
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Ka'imi Fairbairn K | HOU
Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Makes two FGs, XPs
Fairbairn was successful on two of three field-goal attempts and converted both extra-point kicks in Friday's 20-12 preseason win over the Steelers.
Fairbairn calmly drilled a 36-yarder at the end of the first half, then connected from 51 yards in the third quarter. His miss was wide left from 32 yards. Fairbairn's in no danger of losing the placekicking job for a team that's expected to produce a lot of offense and points.
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Jake Bates K | DET
Lions' Jake Bates: Hits field goal in preseason opener
Bates made his only field-goal attempt in Thursday's 14-3 loss to the Giants.
Bates was able to capitalize on his only opportunity Thursday, nailing a 53-yard field goal to give the Lions an early 3-0 lead. The 25-year-old signed with Detroit in June, and he appears to be the featured kicker with the team in 2024 after expected starter Michael Badgley (hamstring) suffered a season-ending injury.
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Alex Hale K | GB
Packers' Alex Hale: Added to competition
Hale signed a contract with the Packers on Wednesday, Ryan Wood of USA Today reports.
Hale is now the third kicker on Green Bay's roster, joining the returning Anders Carlson and free-agent addition Greg Joseph. The latter was considered the favorite to land the job, but the addition of Hale, who went undrafted in 2024 out of Oklahoma State, likely signals no one currently has a firm grasp on the role.
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Cairo Santos K | CHI
Bears' Cairo Santos: No competition for job
Santos has three years remaining on his contract with Chicago, and he is currently the only kicker on the team's roster.
In four years with the Bears, Santos has converted 93 percent of his field goals, making him one of the most accurate kickers in the league. However, due to being a part of some weak offenses, the kicker has exceeded 30 made field goals once since 2020. If the Bears offense breaks out with Caleb Williams at quarterback, Santos could become a top-12 option at his position.
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Harrison Butker K | KC
Chiefs' Harrison Butker: Inks big extension
Butker has agreed to a four-year extension with the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Per Rapoport, Butker's deal -- which makes him the NFL's highest-paid kicker -- is a four-year, $25.6 million extension with $17.8 million in guarantees. The 29-year-old is coming off a 2023 regular season in which he made 33 of his 35 field-goal attempts en route to scoring 137 points in 17 games. While working behind Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes' helmed offense, Butker remains a premium fantasy kicking option ahead of the coming campaign.
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Greg Joseph K | LV
Packers' Greg Joseph: Outperforming Carlson so far
Joseph has the upper hand in the starting kicker race for Green Bay after going 7-for-7 in field-goal tries during practice Thursday compared to Anders Carlson's 4-for-7 session, Matt Schneidman of The New York Times reports.
The veteran kicker signed with Green Bay in March and has so far brought an experienced presence that could give him the advantage as he battles against Carlson for the starting spot. Joseph has now made 29 of 31 of kicks attempted in front of reporters during training camp while Carlson has gone 25-of-31.