Lions dip back into UFL ranks to add new kicker to practice squad

After losing Greg Joseph to the New York Giants on Tuesday, it felt like a good assumption the Detroit Lions would replace him on the practice squad with another kicker. As first reported by the Brownwood News and since announced by the team, the Lions have added Matt McCrane to their practice squad.

The Brownwood News had a quote from McCrane.

"I’m excited for another shot at the big show. The UFL has given me the platform to showcase my talent and I’m very thankful for that.... Regardless of what is to come, I’m grateful for each opportunity. Countless hours of training and kicking with the help of family, coaches and friends…. My Dad, recently, has really kept me motivated and disciplined during the struggle of free agency. It’s a grind and you never know when that call will come. Well, today, it did.”

McCrane has spent the last two years is spring football with the DC Defenders in the XFL (2023) and the merged UFL (2024). Last spring, he went 16-of-20 on field goals with a long of 58. The year before, he went 12-for-16 with a long of 50 yards. Over the two seasons, he went 6-for-8 from 50 yards out or more.

Before his time in the spring leagues, McCrane bounced around several NFL teams. As a rookie in 2018 he kicked in five games for three teams (the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers), going 9-for-9 on extra points and 8-for-12 on field goals (all four missed from 47 yards-plus). Between then and January of 2022, he spent time on the practice squads of the Cleveland Browns, the Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles. He also kicked for the New York Guardians in the 2020 edition of the XFL.

Lions dip back into spring football ranks to add new kicker to practice squad

Right after Michael Badgley's season-ending injury at the start of training camp, McCrane was one of four kickers the Lions had in for a workout. So he's not a complete unknown to them, and he has some NFL experience.

Jake Bates of course also starred in the UFL last season, and he has rewarded the patience the Lions afforded him during the preseason with no slipups through two games. But Brad Holmes wanted to have a kicker with more NFL experience on the practice squad, so the quick pivot from Joseph to McCrane is not surprising.