NFL Player News

Blankenship has won the Colts' kicking battle with the team releasing Jake Verity on Thursday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.

Blankenship entered as the favorite and reportedly outkicked Verity at training camp, even showing improved ability on tries from 50-plus yards. While he has one of the weaker legs among NFL starting placekickers, Blankenship could be useful in fantasy leagues this year, playing for a dome team that many project to win a weak AFC South.

Fairbairn is dealing with an undisclosed short-term injury and isn't expected to be available for Thursday's preseason finale versus the 49ers, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

The injury isn't expected to affect Fairbairn's availability for Week 1, even though he'll be missing the preseason finale. The kicker has converted on two of his three field-goal tries through two exhibition games, with his only miss coming from 59 yards out.

Coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Gano (concussion) is making progress in his recovery, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Gano suffered a concussion when he made a diving tackle attempt during Sunday's preseason game versus Cincinnati, and it has yet to be determined whether he'll be cleared for the Giants' preseason finale at the Jets. For now, he's the only kicker on the roster.

The Titans placed Shudak (undisclosed) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

The rookie kicker has been dealing with an undisclosed injury since June and will now miss Tennessee's first four games as a result of the transaction. The road to playing time for Shudak doesn't look promising, given Randy Bullock is still with the team and has been impressive throughout training camp, per Jim Wyatt of the team's official site.

Pineiro was released by the Jets on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Pineiro was competing with Greg Zuerlein for the starting kicker job in camp, but he was unable to outduel his veteran counterpart. Pineiro will now work to earn an opportunity elsewhere.

Zuerlein is the lone kicker on the Jets roster with the team releasing Eddy Pineiro on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Zuerlein was the favorite heading into camp, and he ultimately won the job. He still has a strong leg, but the volume he saw in past seasons with the Rams and Cowboys may be a thing of the past. Zuerlein will be among the many Jets whose value depends on improvement from second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who likely will miss the start of the season after having meniscus surgery in mid-August.

Maher is left as the only kicker on the Cowboys' roster after the team waived Lirim Hajrullahu on Tuesday, Nick Eatman of the team's official site reports.

The Cowboys have cycled through kickers this offseason, at various times rostering Chris Naggar, Jonathan Garibay, Hajrullahu and Maher after moving on from Greg Zuerlein. Maher is still not guaranteed to be Dallas' kicker Week 1, but he's coming off a 2021 campaign in which he made 16-of-18 field-goal attempts and 10-of-12 point-after tries in eight appearances with the Saints.

Zuerlein remains the favorite to be the starting kicker for the Jets in 2022, Billy Riccette of USA Today reports.

Zuerlein continues to have the edge over Eddy Pineiro in the Jets' kicking battle as the preseason heads into its final week. The 34-year-old Zuerlein signed a deal with the team in March after he went 29-for-35 on field goals last season with the Cowboys.

The Jaguars claimed McCourt off waivers from the Chargers on Tuesday, Hays Carlyon of 1010 AM WJXL Jacksonville reports.

McCourt was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in April, but he was unable to beat out incumbent starter Dustin Hopkins for the kicking job this offseason. However, McCourt quickly found a new opportunity and actually finds himself as the No. 1 guy in Jacksonville after the Jaguars waived Ryan Santoso on Tuesday. Nonetheless, Jacksonville's kicking situation has remained in flux throughout training camp, so McCourt will likely have some competition in the near future.

McCourt was waived by the Chargers on Monday.

McCourt was let go after he was unable to beat out incumbent starter Dustin Hopkins for the Chargers' kicking job this offseason. The undrafted free agent from Illinois connected on both his extra-point attempts over Los Angeles' first two preseason games, and he may manage to land a contract on the team's practice squad heading into the regular season.