NFL Player News

Slye is expected to continue kick for the Panthers despite two missed extra points and a missed 28-yard field goal in last week's loss to the Saints, David Newton of ESPN reports.

It was a tough game for Slye, who most notably missed a potential game-winning 28-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's game. The Panthers signed another kicker to their practice squad early this week, but he was never really a threat to Slye's job. Should the Virginia Tech product continue to under-perform, however, threats about him being replaced could get more serious.

The Cowboys are working out three kickers Sunday, an indication that Maher's standing on the 53-man roster could be on shaky ground, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

After missing seven field-goal attempts in the Cowboys' first 11 games, Maher might have hit a new low in Dallas' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Bills. Though he knocked down his lone extra-point try, Maher had a 35-yard field-goal attempt blocked late in the second quarter and was a wide right on an attempt from 47 yards in the third quarter. Dallas will evaluate the auditioning kickers Sunday and could sign one of the trio, a development that would likely spell an end to Maher's time in the organization.

McLaughlin (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Baltimore, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

McLaughlin has filled in admirably for the injured Robbie Gould (quadriceps), going seven for eight on his field goal attempts and nailing all eight of his extra points. McLaughlin's services won't be needed for the 49ers on Sunday, as the aforementioned Gould returns from injury.

Maher will continue as the Cowboys' kicker, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Even though coach Jason Garrett said the club would evaluate the kicker position after Thursday's loss to the Bills, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team would stand by Maher after he missed both of his field-goal tries in the loss. The 29-year-old has made just 19 of his 28 field-goal attempts on the year and has missed three in the last two games, both Dallas losses.

Prater made both of his field-goal attempts and both of his PATs during Thursday's 24-20 loss to the Bears.

While Prater's stat line was aided by the fact that the Lions' offense stalled twice from within the 10-yard line, he's now attempted at least two field goals in eight of 12 games this year. He also afforded the Lions an extra possession by way of a successful onside kick during the first quarter. Given the relative success that quarterback David Blough had Thursday -- combined with Minnesota's declining defense -- Prater might be worthy of a spot in starting lineups during Detroit's Week 14 game against the Vikings.

Coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Koo will remain the Falcons' kicker, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.

Koo has missed three combined field-goal and extra-point tries over the last three contests, but he redeemed himself in some capacity by converting two onside kicks during Thursday's loss to the Saints. While the 25-year-old looks like he'll remain on the roster through the Week 14 game with the Panthers, he'll need to improve his accuracy to keep his spot for the remainder of the season.

The Patriots released Folk (abdomen) on Friday.

Folk is unable to kick Sunday against the Texans after undergoing an appendectomy, so the Patriots removed him from the roster entirely and replaced him with Kai Forbath. Folk isn't expected to require a lengthy recovery, so the Patriots could decide to bring him back once he's 100 percent healthy.

Koo went 2-for-3 on field-goal attempts and 0-for-1 on extra-point tries during Thursday's 26-18 loss to the Saints.

The entire NFL had succeeded on two onside kicks coming into Week 13. Koo himself converted on two straight in the waning moments of the fourth quarter Thanksgiving night -- not including a third that was erased by Falcons penalty -- though the miraculous recoveries were not enough to overcome his blunders earlier in the contest. Surely, Koo cannot solely shoulder the blame for the team's second straight defeat, but the four points he left on the board proved to be pivotal as Atlanta's late rally came up short against rival New Orleans. The 25-year-old has missed three combined field-goal and extra-point attempts over the past three weeks, as the Falcons prepare for a fourth straight divisional tilt Dec. 8, this time against the Panthers.

Lutz converted all four of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts in the Saints' 26-18 win over the Falcons on Thursday.

Lutz was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals for the second game this season, and he played a key role in the Saints' eight-point victory. Impressively, three of his makes were from 42, 45 and 47 yards out, while his fourth was a 22-yard chip shot. Lutz is one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL this year and remains an elite option while playing on the high-flying Saints offense.

Pineiro connected on a field goal and three extra points in the Bears' 24-20 win over the Lions on Thursday.

The biggest takeaway for Pineiro was that the Bears chose to pass up a 49-yard field-goal attempt in a domed stadium in order to let the offense try to convert a 4th-and-6, showing a lack of confidence in the kicker. With a total of 19 points over his last five games, Pineiro is not a recommended fantasy option.