3 kickers the Detroit Lions could sign to replace Ryan Santoso
2. Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski is another recognizable name veteran who’s still available after a rough 2020, his with the Tennessee Titans (18-for-26 on field goals). The 37-year old has yet to retire, but a hip injury that cost him most of the 2019 season with the New England Patriots seems to have sapped a big chunk of his ability after he was among the best kickers in the league for years in New England.
The Lions should have Gostkowski on a list of options to come in for a workout. He may not want to sign with a losing team, but in his case beggars probably shouldn’t be choosers if Detroit is his only opportunity and he wants to kick.
1. Eddy Pineiro
Pineiro spent training camp this year with the Indianapolis Colts, and apparently kicked well before being cut in late-August. Washington released him from their practice squad with an injury settlement in September.
Pineiro has not kicked in a regular season game since 2019 with the Chicago Bears, when he went 23-for-28 on field goals and 27-for-29 on extra points. As long as he’s healthy, and the pool of options is admittedly not deep, he’s surely on the short list for any team who might need a kicker right now.
Pineiro can’t be any worse than Santoso was on Sunday. He spent a season kicking half his games in Soldier Field, which stands next to Heinz Field among toughest places to kick in the league, and he made a better percentage of his field goals (12-for-14) at home that year (11-for-14 on the road).
