Patriots sign one kicker, release another
On Friday afternoon, the Patriots made a pair of roster moves involving kickers. The team signed Tristan Vizcaino, and released Quinn Nordin.
The Patriots had brought in Vizcaino along with two other kickers on a tryout basis for Minicamp practices this week. Vizcaino has been in the NFL since 2018, and has spent time with six different teams before the Patriots.
After spending his first two seasons on various practice squads, he made his NFL debut with the 49ers in 2020, then played six games for the Chargers last season. He’s connected on nine of his 10 career field goal attempts, and 12 of 17 extra points.
Nordin joined the Patriots last year as an undrafted rookie – the lone UDFA to sign with the team. He impressed with his leg strength but struggled with accuracy late in the season. The Patriots kept him on the initial roster, but he didn’t play in Week 1 and then was placed on IR. Late in the season, the team activated him and moved him to the practice squad. Nordin was not spotted at any of the team’s spring practices.
Vizcaino will likely pick up where Nordin left off, as the backup in camp to returning starter Nick Folk. Folk had one of the best seasons of any kicker in the league in 2021, and returned on a two-year deal in free agency this spring.
