NFL Player News

Lutz missed both field goal attempts and converted his only extra-point try during Sunday's 10-7 defeat to Carolina.

Lutz's streak of consistency over the second half of the season came to an end Week 18. The 28-year-old missed his first 44-yard field-goal attempt wide left early in the second quarter. Lutz also had a chance to put the Saints up 10-7 with under two minutes remaining, though this 55-yard attempt also went wide left after being tipped near the line of scrimmage. Lutz ends his career-worst 2022 campaign by converting 74 percent of his 31 field-goal tries while knocking through all 33 of his point-after tries over 17 games. He also had his shakiest season on long-distance tries, going 8-for-14 on attempts of 40 or more yards. Lutz could be in line for a make-or-break 2023 season as he enters the fifth and final year of his current contract with New Orleans.

Fairbairn made his lone field-goal attempt and all three extra-point kicks in Sunday's 32-31 win over Indianapolis in Week 18.

Fairbairn had a strong season while kicking for one of the worst offenses in the league. He finished out the year by making all 31 kicks over the final 11 games and made all six tries from 50 and beyond. There will be a new coaching staff in 2023, but it shouldn't take much effort to see Fairbairn was not a problem for Houston in 2022. He enters the final year of his contract after successfully converting 29 of 31 field-goal tries.

York did not attempt a field goal and converted both extra-point kicks in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Steelers in Week 18.

York had a quiet finale but finished the season on a high note, making all eight kicks over the final three weeks. It was an uneven season for the rookie, who became a legend in training camp but made just 75 percent (24 of 32) of field-goal attempts. The Browns spent fourth-round draft capital on the LSU product, and while he may not have solidified the kicking game as envisioned, York was the least of the team's issues in 2022. They expect him to be their kicker in 2023.

Gano converted his lone extra-point attempt and added a 24-yard field-goal on his only try in the Giants' Week 18 loss to Philadelphia.

The Giants rested many of their starters for the contest, but they still hung close to an Eagles team with a first-round bye on the line. Gano gave New York its first points with a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter and converted an extra point with less than two minutes remaining to pull the Giants to within six, but his ensuing onside kick was recovered by Philadelphia to effectively end the contest. Gano finished the regular season with a 29-for-32 mark on field-goal tries, marking the third time in the past five seasons he's hit more than 90 percent of his attempts. When the Giants take on Minnesota in the wild-card round next weekend, it will be the veteran kicker's first postseason appearance since 2017.

Santos converted an extra point in the Bears' 29-13 loss to the Vikings in Week 18 and ended the season with 90 points over 16 games played.

Santos has been extremely accurate in his three years with the Bears, and he was over 90 percent accurate on his field-goal attempts this season. The problem for fantasy is the Bears offense. He averaged well less than two field-goal attempts per game, and he hasn't averaged more than two attempts in any of his three years with the team. Unless the Bears offense makes a significant jump in 2023, his volume will make him tough to roster as a primary option in 12-team fantasy leagues. He's under contract through 2025.

Butker (back) is active for Saturday's contest against the Raiders, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

There was some real concern Butker would ultimately miss the regular-season finale, but after an extensive warm-up, the veteran kicker is good to go. It's possible the Chiefs may have to go through this same sort of cadence next week if they're unable to claim the No. 1 seed and first-round bye.

Wright (coach's decision) will not play Saturday against the Raiders, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

Harrison Butker is good to go, making Wright -- who was elevated from the practice squad Friday -- an unneeded luxury Saturday. It's entirely possible the team may have to follow the same cadence next week depending on how Butker's back is feeling after Week 18 action.

The Chiefs elevated Wright from the practice squad Friday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.

The fact that Kansas City is using one of its two allotted practice-squad elevations on Wright signals that Harrison Butker (back) -- who is listed as questionable -- may not play Saturday against the Raiders. If Butker is placed on the inactive list ahead of Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, Wright would step in to handle kicking duties for Kansas City. For fantasy leagues still playing out Week 18 that include a kicker spot, Wright could be worthy of a pickup, given that he'll be tied to one of the NFL's most prolific offenses. Moreover, unlike several teams playing this week, the Chiefs have something to play for, as a win over the Raiders or a Bills loss to the Patriots would lock Kansas City in as the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Chiefs signed Wright to their practice squad Friday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

With Harrison Butker currently listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Raiders due to a back issue, Wright will now provide additional kicking depth just in case the latter won't be available in Week 18. The 26-year-old appeared in two games for Kansas City earlier this year, converting three of his four field-goal attempts and all eight extra-point tries in that span. Wright then kicked for Pittsburgh across four games later in the season and went 12-for-14 on field-goal tries and 7-for-7 on extra-point attempts.

The Chiefs brought in Wright for a tryout Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Wright has spent the majority of the season either unsigned or on practice squads, though he's appeared in six games as a fill-in kicker for both Kansas City and Pittsburgh this season. The 26-year-old has been a reliable option, going 15-of-18 on his field-goal attempts while converting all 15 extra-point tries this season. With Chiefs starting kicker Harrison Butker dealing with back spasms, coach Andy Reid said "there's a chance" the team could add an extra kicker ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale versus Las Vegas, according to Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star. Wright's familiarity with the team from when he filled in with Butker out due to an ankle injury for two games should make him a top candidate to serve as the team's potential emergency kicker Week 18.