NFL Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fellow kicker Greg Joseph has been more accurate than Carlson during open practices this summer, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

The Packers brought in veteran competition this offseason after Carlson, a 2023 sixth-round pick, missed seven field-goal attempts and six PATs in 19 games (including playoffs) during his rookie campaign. Joseph has made 29 of 31 kicks in practices open to reporters at training camp, while Carlson is 25-for-31. That said, Joseph was also far from spectacular last year, going 24-for-30 on field-goal attempts for the division-rival Vikings -- his third straight year missing at least five FGAs.

Fairbairn made one of two field-goal attempts and two of two extra-point kicks in Thursday's 21-17 preseason loss to Chicago.

Fairbairn connected on a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, then missed from long distance -- 58 yards -- just before the game was suspended due to inclement weather. The Texans are confident in Fairbairn, who was unsuccessful on just one of his 28 attempts in 2023 and has a career 87.1 percent FGA success rate. Houston's potentially explosive offense should move Fairbairn up the kicker rankings.