NFL Player News
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Caleb Sturgis K | LAC
Chargers' Caleb Sturgis: Wins kicker job
Sturgis has beat Roberto Aguayo in their competition for the Chargers' place-kicking job.
Both players were productive throughout the preseason, but the Chargers must have felt more confidence in Sturgis being reliable during the regular season. After spending most of last season in recovery mode from a torn hip flexor, he could be a sneaky option for a top-flight year complementing the Chargers offense, which could improve upon a mark of 22.2 points per game from 2017 if the skill positions experience a modicum of health.
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Jason Myers K | SEA
Jets' Jason Myers: Impresses in preseason finale
Myers converted both of his field-goal attempts during Thursday's preseason finale against the Eagles.
Myers made a strong case to be the Jets' kicker in 2018, first connecting on a 58-yarder in the first quarter before following up with a 43-yard strike in the third. His competition at the moment, Taylor Bertolet, was only given one chance on the evening, which was a successful 19-yard attempt. While only time will tell who wins out, the smart money seems to be on Myers to make this team.
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Caleb Sturgis K | LAC
Chargers' Caleb Sturgis: Perfect game Thursday
Head coach Anthony Lynn was complimentary of Sturgis following Thursday's 23-21 preseason win over the 49ers. "We brought Caleb (Sturgis) in to be our kicker. Last couple of weeks, he showed that he could do that," Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Lynn's comments would seem to indicate that Sturgis is the preferred starter, yet down a point with seconds to spare in Thursday's preseason contest, Roberto Aguayo was the one called upon to drill the game-winning 36-yard field goal. It's a microcosm of what has been a productive preseason for both kickers, as Sturgis and Aguayo have appeared to be frontrunners for the starting spot at different points throughout August. Aguayo may have made the most important kick of the night, but Sturgis also converted on his lone field-goal and extra-point attempts, suggesting this could be a battle that will linger until just before final roster cuts.
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Daniel Carlson K | LV
Vikings' Daniel Carlson: Rebounds in preseason finale
Carlson made both field-goal attempts (from 39 and 22 yards) and his only extra-point attempt in Thursday's preseason win over Tennessee.
Carlson missed both field-goal attempts -- each from 42 yards -- in last week's game after winning the kicking job. His perfect final preseason game should ease some concerns heading into Week 1. Still, Carlson may not have much job security if he struggles early in the season.
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Greg Joseph K | LV
Dolphins' Greg Joseph: Likely to lose kicking battle
Joseph appears unlikely to open the season on the Dolphins' 53-man roster with Jason Sanders having won the team's kicking job, a source informed Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
The Dolphins aren't expected to formally name Sanders as their kicker until after Thursday's preseason finale against the Falcons, but barring a collapse in that contest, it appears the seventh-round rookie has secured the job after submitting a strong camp. Sanders' status as a draft pick always gave him the upper hand over Joseph, so the undrafted free agent has done well to make the job battle highly competitive. Joseph has connected on both of his field-goal attempts during the exhibition slate, including one from 54 yards.
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Jason Sanders K | MIA
Dolphins' Jason Sanders: In driver's seat for kicking job
Sanders is set to open the regular season as the Dolphins' kicker so long as he doesn't endure significant struggles during Thursday's preseason finale against the Falcons, a source informed Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Sanders, a seventh-round pick out of New Mexico, has been battling undrafted free agent Greg Joseph for the kicking job throughout training camp. By virtue of his draft status, Sanders entered camp as the favorite, and he's done little to lose that edge by knocking down five of six field-goal attempts during the preseason, with his lone miss coming from 53 yards. Assuming he concludes the exhibition slate on a high note, Sanders will break camp with a roster spot in hand, but he likely won't be worth selecting in most fantasy drafts.
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Caleb Sturgis K | LAC
Chargers' Caleb Sturgis: Battle for kicking role uncertain
Sturgis made his only extra-point attempt and kicked the Chargers' only two kickoffs through the end zone in Saturday's exhibition loss to the Saints.
Sturgis was considered behind Robert Aguayo in the competition for the team's kicking role heading into the evening, so it is unclear where the two stand now. The Chargers may give Aguayo the nod in the final preseason contest, but that is just speculation. The competition may remain up in the air until Saturday's final roster cuts.
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Ross Martin K | CLE
Ross Martin: Kicked to the curb
Martin was waived by the Browns on Tuesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Martin was competing with Zane Gonzalez during training camp and the preseason with the hopes of overtaking him for the job. If unclaimed through waivers, he will be free to pursue other opportunities.
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Zane Gonzalez K | ATL
Browns' Zane Gonzalez: Beats out Martin for job
Gonzalez beat out Ross Martin for the kicker job, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.
The Browns released Martin on Tuesday, but they could still take a look at what else is available around the league in the coming days. Given that he missed five of his 20 field-goal attempts as a rookie last year, Gonzalez seems unlikely to end the lengthy streak of fantasy irrelevance for Cleveland kickers.
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Harrison Butker K | KC
Chiefs' Harrison Butker: Perfect in preseason Week 3
Butker nailed both of his field-goal attempts and added to extra points during Saturday's preseason game against the Bears.
Although his 2017 campaign ended with a thud in the playoffs, Butker was phenomenal as a rookie, knocking home 38 of his 42 attempts on the year with only one miss coming from fewer than 40 yards on the season. He figures to remain one of the top fantasy kickers in 2018 given the explosiveness of the Chiefs' offense.