Zane Gonzalez was injured on the sideline during Friday’s preseason contest, and the Panthers are now eyeing some reinforcement at kicker. According to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter), the Panthers worked out kickers Taylor Bertolet, Brian Johnson, Chase McLaughlin, Eddy Pineiro, and Matthew Wright.
After seeing time in 15 games across two seasons with five different teams, McLaughlin got a chance to be the Browns’ full-time kicker in 2021. He converted 15 of his 21 field goal attempts and 36 of his 37 extra point attempts. With Cleveland selecting Cade York in the fourth round of the draft, McLaughlin was ultimately cut back in May.
Wright got into 14 games for the Jaguars last year, connecting on 21 of his 24 field goal attempts and 13 of his 15 XP tries. After converting 82.1 percent of his FG attempts in 16 games with the Bears in 2021, Pineiro saw time in five games with the Jets last year. He made all eight of his field goal attempts and nine of his 10 extra point attempts.
Johnson appeared in seven games between New Orleans and Washington last year, connecting on all 10 of his field goal attempts (but only nine of his 13 extra point tries). Bertolet, an undrafted free agent back in 2016, has spent time with five NFL teams but hasn’t seen time in a regular season game.
Gonzalez injury himself on Friday night while warming up on the sideline. It was later revealed that he suffered a significant groin injury, with Ellis Williams of the Charlotte Observer writing that it could be a season-ending injury.
I am a big fan of Riley Patterson and I know the Lions are going to keep Austin Seibert so that means they will cut Patterson. Maybe the Lions could get a 7th round pick for him so the Panthers are guaranteed his services as I personally think he’s better than the 5 kickers mentioned.
I get the connection to the Jets with Eddy Pineiro recently being released and both Bertolet and McLaughlin had cups of coffee with them, but the photo is of the preseason superhero, Chris Streveler. Unfortunately, they’re about to release him as well since their top 3 is set. I hope he gets signed to their practice squad but I think someone will pick him up first.
I stand corrected. Eddy Pineiro wore the number for the Jets, too, and that is his picture. I’m not sure what number he wore during his preseason battle with Greg the Leg.
A different kicker for each quarter and overtime? I’m not sure the NFL is ready to adopt baseball’s bullpen approach.