Patriots put rookie kicker on notice with free-agent workouts
The New England Patriots kicker situation is getting more interesting.
It seems as though Bill Belichick and the Patriots coaching staff are frustrated with rookie kicker Chad Ryland, who is struggling to the tune of just 66.7 percent on field goal tries (12-of-18), a rate that ranks him 31st out of 32 qualifying kickers.
Ryland reached a new low last Sunday, when he pulled a 35-yarder way left to blow his chance to tie the game against the New York Giants. Instead, the Pats fell to 2-9 on the season.
Giants win on the Patriots missed field goal. #NEvsNYG pic.twitter.com/7VY2vqmDBz
— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2023
Asked on Wednesday whether Ryland will remain the Patriots kicker for Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers, the ever-evasive Belichick replied, “He’s on the roster, yeah.”
In what smells like a reaction to Ryland’s issues, the Patriots have worked out five free-agent kickers this week, in addition to three wide receivers, three punters, and two long snappers. Here’s the full list of workouts, as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss:
K Tanner Brown (Oklahoma St)
K Matthew McCrane (Kansas State)
K B.T. Potter (Clemson)
K John Parker Romo (Virginia Tech)
K Parker White (South Carolina)
WR Kaylon Geiger (Texas Tech
WR Kalil Pimpleton (Central Michigan)
WR Matthew Sexton (Eastern Michigan)
P Michael Turk (Oklahoma)
P Corliss Waitman (South Alabama)
P Ty Zentner (Kansas State)
LS Dalton Godfrey (South Dakota)
LS Carson Tinker (Alabama)
There’s a familiar name on that list: Corliss Waitman spent 2023 training camp with the Patriots, then four weeks on the practice squad, before being released in October. The fact that the Patriots worked out free agents at every position on the kicking operation is a sign that they’re sending a message to those guys: it’s just not good enough.
As for the wide receivers, they appear to be potential additions for special teams, rather than the offense. Kaylon Geiger, for example, played 19 special teams snaps in three games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022, compared to just nine on offense.
The Patriots also brought in a free-agent quarterback for a workout this week, as well as multiple tight ends and a cornerback. Read more about those free agents below…
Patriots bring in quarterback, 4 others for free-agent workouts
The New England Patriots held five free-agent workouts on Monday, and among them was a quarterback.
As first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots brought in former Purdue QB Austin Burton for a workout in Foxboro on Monday. Burton played the final three years of his college career with the Boilermakers, and also played UCLA prior to that, finishing as a sixth-year senior. He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 273 yards and threw three touchdowns against two interceptions in six games for Purdue in 2022.
Burton also happens to be a native of Newton, Mass. and the son of longtime WBZ-TV Sports Director Steve Burton, who played quarterback at Northwestern from 1982-84. At Purdue, Austin Burton spent time as Purdue’s backup behind Aidan O’Connell, who is now the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders after being drafted there in April.
But this is the most interest an NFL team has shown in Austin of late. He did get to have a workout at B.C.’s Pro Day in front of Patriots scouts.
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Burton #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers runs the ball during the first half against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 24, 2022 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Patriots quarterback room could be in need of another new face, if only for depth purposes. According to MassLive’s Chris Mason, the recently waived Will Grier is expected to “explore his options” after clearing waivers and becoming a free agent. Grier spent 10 weeks on the Patriots roster without seeing the field. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Sunday that the Pats waived Grier to make room for tackle Conor McDermott.
As of Monday evening, the Patriots have Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe on the 53-man roster, and rookie Malik Cunningham on the practice squad. It’s likely that, at this point, it’s still between Jones and Zappe as to who starts on Sundays.
Here’s a quick look at the Patriots’ other free-agent workouts on Monday…
