Patriots swap out one kicker for another just days away from Texans game
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Patriots may end up with a good-old-fashioned kicker #controversy after Sunday night. Because the team announced on Friday that in order to make room for new kicker Kai Forbath, they’ve decided to release Nick Folk.
With just two days and change to prepare for the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football, Forbath will have to gel the best he can with his new teammates in the kicking operation, holder Jake Bailey and long snapper Joe Cardona. The move comes after an emergency appendectomy knocked Folk out for Sunday’s game in Houston, resulting in the elusive “Appendix” designation on the Patriots’ latest injury report.
“It is what it is,” said head coach Bill Belichick when asked about having to make an emergency move at kicker. “Other teams in the league have gone through it, we’ve gone through it at other positions. Not ideal, but we’ll keep going.”
Kai Forbath of the Minnesota Vikings kicks a field goal against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of the NFC Divisional Playoff game at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
This is precisely why the Patriots always hold a number of workouts at every position and worked out several kickers in the wake of losing Stephen Gostkowski for the season. You never know when your only player at a specialist position is going to need his appendix dug out of his body. Gotta prepare for even the most absurd of circumstances.
Given that eight (!) players are on this week’s injury report with an illness after a flu bug swept through the Patriots’ locker room – four of which missed the past two practices in a row – Belichick was asked about his own coughing and sniffling during his Friday press conference. You sick, coach?
“No, no, I’m good now, something went down the wrong way. … We’ll start doing injury reports on the coaching staff. That’ll be the next thing.”
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 03: Place kicker Nick Folk #2 of the New England Patriots kicks a field goal against the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Here’s the full injury report from Thursday, excluding Folk, who won’t be on Friday’s after his release.
Did Not Participate:
LB Dont’a Hightower (Illness)
TE Ryan Izzo (Illness)
CB Joejuan Williams (Illness)
OT Isaiah Wynn (Illness)
Limited Participation:
QB Tom Brady (Elbow)
S Patrick Chung (Illness/Heel/Chest)
LB Jamie Collins (Illness)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor (Illness)
CB Stephon Gilmore (Illness)
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (Knee)
OT Marcus Cannon (Illness)
WR Phillip Dorsett (Concussion)
S Nate Ebner (Ankle/Back)
WR Julian Edelman (Shoulder)
CB Jason McCourty (Groin)
WR Mohamed Sanu (Ankle)
DE John Simon (Elbow)
WR Matthew Slater (Hamstring)
The team’s official website has Forbath listed as wearing No. 5, if you’re interested in that sort of thing. More importantly, he now needs to attempt field goals and extra points in an NFL game for the first time in almost a full calendar year when he takes the field for the Patriots.
It’ll be interesting to see if Forbath performs well on Sunday and gives Belichick something to think about at kicker. But Folk, and even Mike Nugent, were the Patriots’ choices before Forbath in the first place. So Forbath may have to really shine in order to give Belichick a tough decision.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
