The Patriots are in need of a new kicker after placing Stephen Gostkowski on injured reserve earlier today, and they worked out five free agents on Wednesday. New England took a look at Kai Forbath, Elliott Fry, Mike Nugent, Blair Walsh, and Matthew Wright today, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com.
New England will need another kicker for Sunday’s contest against the Redskins, but the club doesn’t seem to be acting with any sense of urgency. The Patriots are not expected to sign a kicker today and may bring in more free agents on Thursday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Chargers also held kicker auditions today, which created travel issues for several free agents, per RapSheet.
Nugent by far the most experienced of the kickers that tried out for the Patriots, having attempted more than 300 field goals during his career, but both Walsh and Forbath have each attempted more than 100 kicks each. Fry lost the Bears’ kicking competition over the summer, while Wright is an undrafted rookie free agent.
Meanwhile, Kaare Vedvik — who was traded from the Ravens to the Vikings this offseason before briefly landing with the Jets — declined to work out for the Patriots, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Vedvik is focusing on punting and kickoffs rather than field goals.
Nugent would be the best chance to stick it to the Jets.
They have zero reason to stick anything to the jets.
It’s Belichick. He hates that team. He hates them more than he hates losing.
Wasn’t Nugent with the Cowboys for a few games? If I recall he was pretty bad?
he was in 2017 but he was also with the bears for a few games that season and was perfect and played with the raiders for a few games last season and was 6 for 6 with a 52 yarder in there.
As a Jets fan i hope they dont get him.
Matt Wright deserves the job. He was a great kicker at UCF and had one bad preseason game but was solid otherwise
Being a great kicker in college doesn’t mean you’ll end up even being good in the NFL
It would be great for the Pats to create a feel good story instead of a good feel story.
Shouldn’t Vedvik be glad that anyone is offering him anything? I guess beggars can be choosers.
Look at it this way, if he gets the job and performs bad, he most likely doesn’t get another shot. He’s trying to make sure that he’s as ready as he can be for his next shot.
Wow Vedvik is dumb you have to be to not kick for a super bowl contender who already has a kicker for next year
Doubt he’s looking for a 1 year trial.
It’s better than nothing
Wouldn’t take a job knowing full well that I’m gone unless your sitting at home crying about double doinking on National Tv. Walsh deserves the job. At least he can occasionally make a kick. Vedvik can’t even do that in a Preseason game inside of a dome.
Cari Lloyd
I want them to sign Chris Blewitt…just for the name alone!
Once again… austin macginnis is snubbed from a tryout.
Kurt Hummel
Patriots lose another kowski