NFL Player News

Lutz, who signed a contract extension with Denver last November, enters the 2026 campaign as the team's clear primary kicker, Bob Morris of SI.com reports.

Lutz has been very reliable since joining the Broncos in 2023, playing in all 51 of the team's regular-season games and making 89.0 percent of his field-goal tries. He's converted 12 of 18 attempts from 50-plus yards during that time and hasn't missed any extra points over the past two years. Morris notes Lutz's contract includes no guaranteed money in 2028, but with most of his salary guaranteed from 2026 to 2027, the veteran kicker is essentially locked in as Denver's starting kicker for at least the next two years.

McPherson will again work as Cincinnati's primary kicker during the upcoming season following a bounce-back performance last year, John Sheeran of A to Z Sports reports.

McPherson struggled mightily in 2024, making just 16 of 22 FG attempts over 12 regular-season contests. However, he was much better last season, converting a career-high 89 percent of his field-goal tries (25-for-28), though he did miss three PATs. McPherson went 5-for-8 from 50-plus yards and 10-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards last year, giving the Bengals a reliable leg when they opted to kick from distance. Cincinnati has much higher aspirations after winning just six games last year, and McPherson figures to play a key role if the team is to rebound from a rough campaign.

Santos currently doesn't have any viable competition for the role of Chicago's primary placekicker, Alyssa Barbieri and Brendan Sugrue of Bears Wire report.

Santos had an uneven 2025 season, making just 25 of 30 field-goal attempts, including going 4-for-6 from 50-plus yards. However, he made all 39 of point-after tries and hit several clutch FGs, including a game-winning 48-yard kick as time expired against Minnesota in Week 11. With that said, the 12-year veteran doesn't have anywhere near the strongest leg in the league, and he missed a pair of contests last year due to a thigh injury. The Bears don't currently have another kicker on the roster, so Santos looks set to open 2026 as the team's primary option at that position. However, Barbieri and Sugrue suggest Chicago could move on at some point given Santos' lack of a big leg, which puts him behind most top kickers in the league.

Little is set to reprise his role as Jacksonville's primary kicker during the upcoming season and will look to further cement his place as one of the NFL's top players at his position, Casandra Chesser of Jaguars Wire reports.

Little made history last year when he kicked the longest field goal in league history -- a 68-yarder in Week 9. For good measure, he booted a 67-yarder in Week 18 and outdid both of those kicks in the preseason with a 70-yarder. Overall, Little made 30 of 34 FG attempts and 50 of 51 extra-point tries, leaving little margin for him to improve. Still, he had a rough patch between Weeks 3 and 7 when he went just 4-for-8 on field-goal tries, so a reasonable goal could be to avoid any similar uneven stretches in 2026. Regardless, Little will enter the campaign as one of fantasy's most desirable kickers, especially in formats that award more points for long-distance makes.

Dicker is entering his fifth NFL campaign, his fourth as the Chargers' undisputed starting kicker.

Dicker is coming off of a 2025 campaign during which he converted 38 of 41 field-goal attempts, notching his first Pro Bowl appearance. Dicker now owns four of the five best single-season field-goal percentage campaigns in franchise history, per Omar Navarro of the Chargers' official website. The kicker will look to build off the historic start to his career in 2026, capping off the possessions of the highly-anticipated Los Angeles offense under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Ravens coach Jesse Minter said in June that the team remains confident in Loop, who was the only kicker on the roster for offseason practices, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.

A 2025 sixth-round pick, Loop missed just four field-goal attempts and two PATs as a rookie, but his season was ultimately remembered for a last-second shank that cost Baltimore a playoff spot. He also went just 1-for-4 on kicks of 50-plus yards, unable to make an impact from long range despite boasting plenty of leg strength. While the Ravens still have time to bring in competition before Week 1, they clearly intend for Loop to handle the placekicking work if he doesn't faceplant during training camp and the preseason.

The Saints signed Brown on Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Brown most recently spent time with the Falcons' practice squad in 2024, and he's now agreed to terms with the Saints. The Oklahoma State product has yet to make an NFL appearance after converting 22 of 23 field-goal attempts and all 42 of his point-after tries across 12 games during his final collegiate season in 2022. He's expected to compete with Charlie Smyth for New Orleans' top kicker spot ahead of the 2026 season.

Shrader (knee) went three of five on kicks during Thursday's minicamp session, Kevin Bowen 93.5 The Fan in Indianapolis reports.

It's notable that the kicker is participating in practice after tearing his ACL in Week 5 of the 2025 campaign after being run into by a defender. Shrader is on track to compete with Blake Grupe for the Colts' starting kick job during training camp. Grupe made all five of his kicks Thursday, per Bowen.

The Buccaneers signed Potter on Monday, Brianna Dix of the team's official site reports.

Potter initially signed with the Steelers after going undrafted in 2023, but he was later dropped and has never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Across his final two seasons at Clemson, the 26-year-old converted all 97 of his point-after tries and 41 of 52 field-goal attempts.

Ryland is the only kicker on the Cardinals' roster after Joshua Karty was waived Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

Ryland was the Cardinals' kicker for all 17 games last season en route to making 25 of 33 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his extra-point tries. Karty was claimed off waivers from the Rams late last season, but he wasn't made active by Arizona down the stretch. In any case, Thursday's move eliminates what could have been a job battle this summer, with Ryland's fantasy upside in 2026 linked to how well the team's offense clicks with veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett at the helm.