NEW ORLEANS, La. — The New Orleans Saints are changing kickers before Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns after releasing Daniel Carlson on Tuesday, seven games into his time with the team.
Carlson, 31, joined New Orleans just before the regular season began, after the club spent the summer trying out a series of kickers. The fit never came together. He made 8 of his 12 field goal tries and 16 of 18 extra points, and two of his kickoffs drew penalties for landing inside the landing zone.
Those numbers left him tied near the bottom of the league, ranking 31st of 32 NFL kickers in field goal percentage and 29th in extra point percentage.
The move also opened a spot on the 53-man roster for running back Audric Estime, whom the Saints claimed off waivers from the Browns, the same team they face this weekend.
Who kicks against Cleveland is still an open question. Charlie Smyth, the Irish kicker who has spent the season on the practice squad and competed for the job in training camp, could be elevated for the game at the Caesars Superdome. Another option is bringing in a new kicker over the next few days in time for the weekend. Smyth turned in a respectable performance for the club last year before losing out on the job this summer.
Head coach Kellen Moore is set to speak with reporters Wednesday and is expected to address the kicking job.
New Orleans sits at 2-5 after an open date last weekend on the schedule, and the Week 9 matchup with the Browns is the team’s first game since the bye.
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