NFL Player News
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Alex Hale K | GB
Alex Hale: Let go by Packers
Hale (eye) was waived with a non-football injury designation by the Packers on Monday.
Hale spent the 2024 season on Green Bay's practice squad after joining the team as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program. The kicker had been on the active/non-football injury list prior to being let go after he injured his eye while working out. Hale will be sidelined for several weeks, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Alex Hale K | GB
Packers' Alex Hale: Sidelined to start training camp
Hale (undisclosed) was placed on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com reports.
Hale spent the entire 2024 season on the Packers' practice squad and could be headed that direction again in 2025. However, he'll first have to get back on the field after recovering from his undisclosed injury.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Browns' Dustin Hopkins: Looking to rebound in 2025
Hopkins is going to get every opportunity to show he's moved on from a frustrating 2024 season, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Hopkins was acquired from the Chargers ahead of the 2023 campaign and had a career year that season, drilling 33 of 36 field-goal attempts (91.7 percent) and 24 of 26 extra-point tries. Cleveland inked him to a three-year, $15.3 million extension through 2027, but the veteran kicker then posted the worst season of his career in 2024, making just 18 of 27 field goals (66.7 percent) and 17 of 20 extra points. The Browns have brought in Andre Szmyt to provide competition, but it sounds like Cleveland wants Hopkins to win this job. For fantasy purposes, the Browns don't project to be a high-scoring offense in 2025. That coupled with Hopkins' 2024 struggles don't make him a desirable target.
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Anders Carlson K | NYJ
Anders Carlson: Cut loose by Jets
The Jets are waiving Carlson, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
In related news, the team is signing Harrison Mevis as Carlson's replacement to compete with Caden Davis for the placekicker job. Carlson could get end up with another team this summer, but it isn't a great sign for his future that the Jets released him before training camp.
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Harrison Mevis K | NYJ
Jets' Harrison Mevis: Latches on with Jets
The Jets signed Mevis to a contract Tuesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Mevis spent time with Carolina in 2024 after going undrafted out of Missouri, but he wasn't able to stick on the Panthers' regular-season roster. He resurfaced with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL for their 2025 season, converting 20 of 21 field-goal attempts. Mevis now joins a kicker competition that includes Caden Davis and Anders Carlson, with the latter being the favorite to win the starting job ahead of Week 1.
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Spencer Shrader K | IND
Colts' Spencer Shrader: Will face competition for K job
Shrader and and Maddux Trujillo are in a true competition for the starting placekicker job, special teams coordinator Brian Mason recently told 107.5 FM The Fan in Indianapolis. "Spencer certainly has a little bit of a step up in that. He's already been in the league, already been here, but it is definitely an open competition," said Mason.
Shrader inked a two-year deal with the Colts in mid-March after a tumultuous rookie campaign, in which he appeared in four combined games between Indianapolis, Kansas City and the Jets. He converted all five of his field-goal tries and all nine extra-point attempts across those appearances. The Colts will have a new kicker this season after releasing Matt Gay in April. While Shrader's two-year contract likely indicates he's the favorite, it wouldn't be surprising if Trujillo wins the job or if the team acquires another veteran late in training camp for the job. Shrader will need to have a strong preseason as a result.
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Andre Szmyt K | CLE
Andre Szmyt: Getting waived
Cleveland waived Szmyt on Wednesday.
In a corresponding transaction, the Browns signed wide receiver Jaelen Gill on Wednesday. Projected starting kicker Dustin Hopkins is returning from a mediocre season in 2024, but at least for now, he no longer has any competition. Szmyt will likely look for another opportunity elsewhere.
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Evan McPherson K | CIN
Bengals' Evan McPherson: Returns to full health
McPherson has recovered from a torn abductor muscle sustained in 2024, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.
McPherson has been participating in Cincinnati's voluntary OTAs, indicating he's fully recovered from the abdomen injury that forced him to miss the team's final five games last season. The Florida product had the worst season of his NFL career in 2024, converting on just 16 of 22 field-goal attempts. Over the past two seasons, he's made only 52.6 percent of his field-goal tries (10 of 19) from 50 or more yards. However, he's missed just one of his last 78 extra-point attempts and appears poised for a bounce-back season in 2025.
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Younghoe Koo K | NYG
Falcons' Younghoe Koo: Healthy ahead of 2025
Koo (hip) was an active participant on the first day of Atlanta's OTAs on Tuesday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official website reports.
Koo was back out on the practice field after missing the Falcons' last three contests of 2024 with a right hip injury. The veteran kicker made 25 of 34 field-goal attempts while making all 26 of his extra-point tries over 14 games last year. Koo's 74 percent field-goal percentage in 2024 was a career low, and he'll look to stay healthy and bounce back in 2025.
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Greg Zuerlein K | NYJ
Greg Zuerlein: Cut following failed physical
The Jets released Zuerlein (knee) with a failed physical designation Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Zuerlein landed on injured reserve after Week 8 last season due to a left knee injury but was activated from the list prior to a Week 17 matchup with the Bills. He didn't attempt a kick in that game and then was placed on IR afterward, ending his campaign having made nine of 15 field-goal attempts and 13 of 14 point-after tries. The Jets announced the current move earlier Friday, but the reason for his release wasn't known until the NFL posted its transaction log for the day. New York will move forward with Anders Carlson and undrafted rookie Caden Davis this offseason, while the 37-year-old Zuerlein presumably will need to prove his health in order to earn another opportunity.