NFL Player News
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Eddy Pineiro K | SF
Panthers' Eddy Pineiro: Sticks with Panthers
Pineiro re-signed with Panthers on a two-year contract Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
It had been several seasons since Pineiro was a full-time kicker in the NFL, but he had a successful 2022 campaign with the Panthers while making 33 of his 35 field-goal attempts. In particular, he showed excellent accuracy from long range by making 15 of his 16 kicks from more than 40 yards away. He was rewarded with a two-year deal and should be locked into the starting role in Carolina for the foreseeable future.
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Riley Patterson K | MIA
Jaguars' Riley Patterson: Signs tender with Jacksonville
Patterson signed his contract tender with the Jaguars on Thursday, Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union reports.
Patterson, who had been an exclusive rights free agent, is thus in a position to reprise his role as Jacksonville's kicker in 2023, with James McCourt currently providing depth at the position. In his first year with the Jaguars last season, the 23-year-old Patterson made 30 of his 35 field-goal attempts and 36 of his 37 extra-point tries.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: In line to compete for kicking job
Hopkins (hamstring) is expected to compete with Cameron Dicker for the Chargers' kicking job in 2023, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
A hamstring injury limited Hopkins to five games in 2022, which paved the way for Dicker to close out the season as the team's placekicker. Dicker -- who the Chargers have extended a 2023 contract tender to -- made 19 of his 20 field-goal attempts in a Los Angeles uniform while connecting on all 22 of his extra-point tries. Prior to his injury, Hopkins had hit nine of his 10 field-goal attempts and made all 12 of his extra-point tries. With that in mind, as long as both kickers remain under contract and Hopkins is past his hamstring woes, an offseason job competition looms.
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Mike Badgley K | BUF
Lions' Michael Badgley: Returning to Detroit
Badgley and the Lions agreed to a contract Friday, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Badgley joined the Lions in early October and was still able to tally 100 points while serving as the placekicker for the team's final 12 games. He'll now return to Detroit for the 2023 campaign, one that many expect to be a leap forward for the Lions after a promising 2022.
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Greg Joseph K | LV
Vikings' Greg Joseph: Re-signs with Minnesota
The Vikings re-signed Joseph to a one-year contract Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Joseph's deal is worth up to $2.5 million with incentives and will keep the Vikings' often reliable kicker in Minnesota for the 2023 campaign. The 28-year-old finished the 2022 season converting on 26 of his 33 field-goal attempts and 40 of his 46 extra-point tries. Joseph set the NFL record with five game-winning field goals last season.
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Cameron Dicker K | LAC
Chargers' Cameron Dicker: Staying in Los Angeles
Dicker will remain in Los Angeles after the Chargers picked up his exclusive rights free-agent tender Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Dicker finished last season converting 21 of his 22 field-goal tries and all 24 of his extra-point attempts. After leading the NFL in field goal percentage in his rookie season, the 22-year-old certainly did enough to give the Chargers confidence in handing over the starting job to him for the 2023 campaign. Assuming the offense can take a step forward next season under new coordinator Kellen Moore, Dicker should be a solid fantasy option.
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Matt Prater K | BUF
Cardinals' Matt Prater: Back with Arizona on two-year deal
Prater agreed Tuesday with the Cardinals on a two-year contract, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.
The 2023 campaign will be Prater's age-39 season. He missed four games to injury last year but otherwise hadn't missed a contest since 2014 with the Lions. Prater made 22 of 25 field-goal attempts and 17 of 18 extra-point tries last season. He still has one of the stronger legs in the sport.
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Matt Gay K | SF
Colts' Matt Gay: Agrees to record-setting deal
Gay agreed to a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Colts on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
After signing the biggest free-agent deal for a kicker in NFL history, it's safe to assume Gay will kick for the Colts in 2023 without facing a challenge in training camp. Meanwhile, the Rams will have to find a new kicker after Gay converted 74 of 80 field-goal attempts for them over the previous three seasons.
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Greg Zuerlein K | NYJ
Jets' Greg Zuerlein: Remains in New York
Zuerlein has re-signed with the Jets, Dianna Russini of ESPN reports.
Zuerlein has converted between 81 and 83 percent of his field-goal attempts over the last three years, which isn't elite, though it is acceptable. Although he attempted just 29 field goals last year, if the Jets are able to upgrade at quarterback, his fantasy value could be on the rise.
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Wil Lutz K | DEN
Saints' Wil Lutz: Takes pay cut
Lutz restructured his contract with the Saints on Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Networkreports.
The veteran kicker actually took a bit of a pay cut, as he'll have a chance to earn back only half of the $1.5 million via incentives this season. Perhaps more importantly, this moves essentially assures the 28-year-old will at least be on the team entering the 2023 season after finishing this season 23-of-31 on field-goal tries, including 8-of-14 from attempts from 40-plus yards out. Lutz missed the entire 2021 season with an abdomen injury that resulted in core-muscle surgery.