NFL Player News

The Lions placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Bates on Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

While Bates wasn't nearly as effective in 2025 as he was as a 2024 rookie, he still converted 27 of 34 field-goal attempts and a league-high 54 PATs on 56 tries. Through two seasons, Bates has made 84 percent of his field-goal tries and 96 percent of his extra points. He figures to be busy again next season in Detroit's high-powered offense.

The Browns extended Szmyt an exclusive rights free agent tender Wednesday.

Szmyt will return to Cleveland on a one-year deal for 2026, an unsurprising transaction after his solid 2025 campaign with the team. Across 17 regular-season appearances in 2025, Szmyt converted 24 of 27 field-goal attempts and 25 of 26 on extra-point tries. He projects to reprise his role as the Browns' top placekicker in 2026, though unless the team's offense can take a notable step forward under new head coach Todd Monken, it will be difficult for Szmyt to see the type of scoring opportunities required to be a difference-maker for fantasy purposes.

Folk announced he intends to play in 2026, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Folk will return for another NFL season after converting 28 of 29 field-goal attempts and all 22 of his extra-point tries across 16 games with the Jets last year. The 41-year-old is set to become a free agent once the new league year begins and will be one of the top options available at kicker.

The Rams tendered Mevis on Monday.

Mevis was lined up to be an exclusive rights free agent, but it's no surprise the Rams decided to tender him, which will prevent him from being able to negotiate with other teams. The undrafted kicker out of Missouri latched on with Los Angeles' practice squad in November last year and eventually earned his way to a role as the team's starting kicker. He debuted Week 10 against San Francisco and finished the regular season having converted 12 of 13 field-goal tries and all 39 of his point-after attempts. Mevis then went 6-for-6 on FG tries and 9-for-9 on PATs in the postseason, all but assuring that he'll enter training camp as the frontrunner for the team's kicking job in 2026.

The Cowboys have reportedly offered Aubrey a deal for more than Harrison Butker's league-high $6.4 million average per season, Todd Archer of ESPN reports.

Per the report, the Cowboys and Aubrey's agent Todd France are in agreement that the 30-year-old should be the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, but the team's reported offer falls short of the $10 million per season that France is said to be seeking. Aubrey is on track to become a restricted free agent next month, with Archer relaying that Cowboys are likely to place the second-round tender (at a cost of close to $5.8 million) on the Notre Dame product, who made 36 of his 42 field-goal attempts during the 2025 regular season en route to racking up a fantasy-friendly 155 points (third among NFL kickers).

Myers connected on all five field-goal attempts and both extra-point tries in Sunday's 29-13 win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Myers accounted for the Seahawks' first 12 points of the game, and he finished with 17 total points. The 34-year-old kicker completed a perfect postseason, drilling all eight field-goal attempts and 11 extra-point tries through three playoff games. Myers was dependable during the regular season, too, making 85 percent of his field goals and every extra point. He's heading into the final year of his contract but could be an extension candidate as the Seahawks look to retain their title in 2026.

Myers hit a 27-yard field goal and all four extra-point tries in Sunday's 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

Myers has hit all three field-goal attempts and all nine extra-point tries through two postseason games. During the regular season, he connected on 41 of 48 field-goal tries, including 22 of 27 (81.3 percent) from beyond 40 yards. The Seahawks will face the Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8.

Myers connected on both field-goal attempts and all five extra-point tries in Saturday's 41-6 win over the 49ers in the divisional round.

Myers missed two kicks in the regular-season finale against the 49ers, but he was perfect in the rematch. Overall and including the playoffs, Myers has hit 86 percent of his field-goal tries this season, including nine of 12 attempts from beyond 50 yards. Myers will be outdoors again in the NFC Championship Game regardless of the opponent.

Prater (quad/calf) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

Prater was listed as a non-participant in Tuesday's walkthrough but was able to upgrade to full participation in Wednesday's session. The kicker was questionable to play ahead of last Sunday's playoff win over the Jaguars, but he managed to suit up for the game and put forth a flawless effort. The 41-year-old should be all set to play in Saturday's divisional-round matchup against the Broncos, barring any setbacks.

The Bills listed Prater as a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice due to right quadriceps and calf injuries.

The kicker had previously been listed on injury reports with only the quad issue, which kept him from playing in Weeks 16 and 17. Since returning in Week 18, Prater has knocked down both of his field-goal tries and all six of his extra-point attempts, but he's ceded kickoff duties to punter Mitch Wishnowsky in both contests. Even though Prater's calf is now bothering him as well, head coach Sean McDermott said he expects the veteran to kick during Wednesday's practice, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com. If Prater is unable to play in Saturday's divisional-round game in Denver, the Bills will likely call up Matthew Wright from the practice squad to serve as their placekicker.