NFL Player News

McLaughlin is slated to be Tampa Bay's primary placekicker for the fourth consecutive campaign in 2026.

McLaughlin got limited opportunities early in his career, but he's played in 16 or 17 contests each of the past five years, the last three of which have been with the Bucs. He was incredibly accurate in making 94 percent of his field-goal attempts over his first two regular seasons with the club, and though that rate dropped a bit to 84 percent last year, McLaughlin also hit a career-high 11 field goals from 50-plus yards (on 12 attempts). He'll be in the final year of the three-year contract he inked in 2024, which could give McLaughlin additional incentive to make a big impact with his leg.

The Raiders signed Matsuzawa to the practice squad Monday.

Matsuzawa was unable to beat out Matt Gay for the Raiders' kicker role, but the former will stick around on the practice squad. Matsuzawa missed his lone field-goal attempt and went 1-for-3 on extra-point tries across two preseason games.

Sanders was signed to the Jets' practice squad Monday.

Sanders has been through quite the ordeal with the Jets, going from being the presumed starter, to being released, and now back with the team's practice squad. Sanders will provide New York with an experienced option to turn to if new addition Blake Grupe struggles early in the 2026 campaign.

Smyth was signed to the Saints' practice squad Monday, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.

Smyth was waived by the team Sunday, but he ultimately went unclaimed, freeing him up to return to the team's practice squad. The kicker missed his only field-goal attempt, a 56-yard try, during the preseason with New Orleans. He did operate as the team's starting kicker for the final six regular-season games in 2025, going 12-for-16 on field-goal tries while making all 13 of his PATs. Smyth now will operate as a fallback option for the Saints if starting kicker Daniel Carlson doesn't work out in 2026.

Sanders was released by the Jets on Monday, Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports.

Sanders appeared likely to operate as New York's starting kicker in 2026 after the team let Cade York go Tuesday, but after the team added Blake Grupe on Monday, Sanders will hit the open market. The kicker made two of three field-goal attempts and went 2-for-3 on PATs during the preseason, and he now will look for another opportunity elsewhere.

Coach Jesse Minter said Monday that Loop is expected to handle Week 1 kicking duties against the Colts despite Baltimore's addition of Jake Moody to the practice squad, Giana Han of the Baltimore Banner reports.

Loop missed a pair of field-goal attempts in the Ravens' preseason finale and has struggled during his short career on kicks from distance, as he made just one of four field goals from 50-plus yards during the 2025 regular season. He figures to have a short leash after his Week 18 miss last season sent the Steelers to the playoffs over the Ravens. Whoever kicks for the Ravens will have plenty of fantasy appeal in what should be one of the league's top offenses.

Grupe has a clearer path to the Jets' kicking job after the team released Jason Sanders on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

After being claimed off waivers earlier Monday, Grupe now is the lone kicker on the Jets' roster after the team elected to let Sanders go. Grupe appears to be on track to serve as the team's starting kicker this season after he went 29-for-37 on field-goal attempts while making all 25 of his extra-point tries over 16 regular-season contests with the Saints and Colts last year.

Grupe was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Monday, Antwan V. Staley of the New York Daily News reports.

Grupe was cut loose by the Colts on Sunday after losing the kicking battle to Spencer Shrader during the preseason. The kicker went 2-for-4 on field-goal tries with Indianapolis in exhibition season, and after the Jets released Jason Sanders later Monday, per Tom Pelissero of Netflix, Grupe seemingly has a firm grip on a starting job with New York ahead of Week 1 against the Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Sanders isn't a lock to secure the starting kicker role with the Jets this season, Antwan V. Staley of the New York Daily News reports.

Sanders was the last man standing at kicker with New York after the team waived Cade York on Tuesday, but the team claimed Blake Grupe off waivers Monday, complicating the situation again. Sanders is expected to compete with Grupe for the starting job ahead of Week 1 against the Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Moody was signed to the Ravens' practice squad Monday.

Moody was let go by Washington on Aug. 17, and the kicker will now head to Baltimore as a potential fallback option for the team if second-year pro Tyler Loop stumbles in 2026. Moody combined to go 19-for-23 on field-goal tries, including 2-for-2 from 50-plus yards, over nine regular-season contests with the 49ers, Bears and Commanders in 2025.