Who Should I Start? Riley Patterson or Blake Grupe

Thursday, August 22, 9:20 AM

The Washington Commanders are releasing kicker Riley Patterson following the trade for former Cleveland Browns kicker Cade York, according to John Keim of ESPN. Patterson has spent time with six NFL organizations since going undrafted out of Memphis in 2021. He's seen regular-season action with the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns, and has made 59 of his 67 field goal attempts through the first 39 contests of his career. Patterson's 88.1% career field goal percentage is above the league's average, so it would not be surprising if he lands another opportunity this season.

Friday, September 13, 1:28 PM

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was on fire in Week 1's win over Carolina. The second-year kicker drilled all five extra point attempts, along with all four field goal attempts. Two of his field goals came from 50+ yards out, showcasing improvement from last year. Grupe is a tougher start this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who gave up just 17 points last week to Cleveland. Despite his strong Week 1 performance, look elsewhere for a kicker in Week 2.