Lions add two kickers, release Ryan Santoso
The Detroit Lions have added not one but two kickers, and of course they released Ryan Santoso after his bad performance in Week 10.
After missing an extra point in regulation and what would’ve been the game-winning field goal in overtime of Week 10’s tie of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ryan Santoso was on thin ice as the Detroit Lions’ kicker.
Kicker tryouts were coming in Detroit this week, and on Tuesday two additions were made. Riley Patterson has been signed from the New England Patriots practice squad to the active roster, and Aldrick Rosas has been added to the practice squad. In corresponding moves, Santoso was released and wide receiver Geronimo Allison was waived.
#Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 16, 2021
Signed K Riley Patterson to the active roster from the New England practice squad
Waived WR Geronimo Allison
Signed K Aldrick Rosas to the practice squad
Released K Ryan Santoso from the practice squad
Lions are cycling through kickers quite vigorously
Patterson went undrafted out of Memphis this year, and he landed with the Minnesota Vikings before an injury landed him on IR and he lost a kicking battle with Greg Joseph. The Patriots added him to their practice squad after he was released with an injury settlement.
Rosas has kicked for three teams over the last five seasons, mostly recently the New Orleans Saints for four games this year (1-for-4 on field goals).
Since losing Matt Prater to the Arizona Cardinals via free agency in March, the Lions are now on their sixth and seventh kickers they’ve had somewhere on the roster or practice squad.
Kicker No. 6 and kicker No. 7, come on down, you're the next contestant on "Please Make This Field Goal." https://t.co/3rqGLowNXH
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) November 16, 2021
If I have the cap info right, the Lions gave Bullock $750,000 guaranteed, Seibert's guaranteed base is $850,000 and these vet min game checks for Santoso and Patterson will add up to about $200,000, at least. That's $1.8 million.
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) November 16, 2021
Prater's 2021 hit, $2 million.
Matthew Wright, Randy Bullock and Zane Gonzalez were gone before the season, with all three eventually landing on new teams they’re still kicking for. Austin Siebert was picked up off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals before Week 1, and he’s 10-for-12 on field goals around a stint out due to COVID-19 and he’s currently on IR with a hip issue. Santoso kicked in three games in place of Seibert, and now Patterson is next up with Rosas on the practice squad as an experienced backup option.
The Lions are not in a position to give away opportunities to win based on a kicker’s lack of ability to make kicks (especially an extra point). That failure rightfully cost Santoso his job, and with Seibert out for at least two more games it’s on to the next starting Sunday against the Browns.
