Detroit Lions projected to make kicker change after battle in camp
Among multiple positional battles looming for training camp, the Detroit Lions one looming at placekicker with a possible change from late last season.
Through a stretch of last season, the Detroit Lions cycled through placekickers on what seemed like a weekly basis. In the grand scope of things it was not their biggest problem, even as Ryan Santoso’s shortcomings cost them a win, but having four guys attempt kicks in a season is never ideal. By the end of the 11th game of the season, all four had kicked in a game.
The Lions thinned their kicker ranks a bit by parting ways with Aldrick Rosas earlier this month, in a move that cleared room for waiver pickup John Cominsky. So that leaves Riley Patterson and Austin Seibert as the current incumbents in the battle for who’ll be the Lions’ kicker this year.
Patterson stabilized things when he took over last year, making 13-of-14 field goals and all 16 of his extra points over seven games. Seibert kicked in six games last year before a hip injury landed him on IR, and he went 10-for-12 on field goals and 5-for-5 on extra points.
Detroit Lions projected to make a change a kicker from late last year
ESPN Lions’ beat writer Eric Woodyard has done a 53-man roster projection (subscription required). With a h/t to Heavy.com, and somewhat buried in a broader talk about the special teams group, he projected Siebert to beat out Patterson for the kicking job.
"Fox was named a Pro Bowler at punter in 2020, in addition to being named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month during September 2020. He is looking to headline this group with Daly at long snapper and Seibert at kicker.”"
Seibert has a bit more a resume as an NFL kicker that Patterson, with 27 games over three seasons for three teams. Patterson was an undrafted rookie last year. The Lions were the third roster or practice squad he was on, and the only team he kicked in a meaningful game for.
The Lions are fostering and demanding competition everywhere, and kicker is one of those spots as training camp looms. Another option may be brought in if Patterson or Seibert is not up to par during camp and preseason games, but a looming two-man battle should still favor Patterson even if some think Seibert will win the job.
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