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Report: K Wil Lutz Injury Forces Saints to Tryout Placekickers

New Orleans held tryouts for two kickers and a longsnapper ahead of Saturday's preseason contest with the Baltimore Ravens.

Kyle T. Mosley

New Orleans held tryouts for two kickers and a longsnapper ahead of Saturday's preseason contest with the Baltimore Ravens.

Saints K Wil Lutz was an Undrafted Free Agent
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans kicker Wil Lutz's injury is an issue as the team prepares for Saturday's first preseason game in Baltimore. Nick Underhill and Larry Holder reported Lutz could miss significant time at the start of the season.

Lutz has missed the first week of training camp due to a soft tissue injury. I spotted him at Saints practice sidelines on July 30, watching punter Blake Gillikin's workout.   

Wil Lutz posted on social media his feelings about the injury:

NFL Insider, Ian Rapoport, reported Lutz left Saturday's practice to visit with Dr. William Meyers for potential core muscle surgery.   The rehabilitation after the surgery could hold Lutz from action for 8+ weeks.

Aaron Wilson reports New Orleans held tryouts with placekickers Chandler Catanzaro and Blair Walsh. Also, at the tryout session was long snapper John Denney.

Chandler Catanzaro, Kicker
Sep 24, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) kicks a field goal as Tampa Bay Buccaneers punter Bryan Anger (9) holds the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Catanzaro began his NFL career in Arizona (2014-16), New York Jets (2017), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018), Carolina Panthers (2018). He was a practice squad member of the New York Giants in 2020. Catanzaro made 83.8% of his 142 attempts, with his longest field goal at 60 yards. The 6-3 and 210-pound kicker finished his college career in 2013 with Clemson as the school's all-time leading scorer at 404 points.

Initial reports had Blair Walsh as one of the placekickers for the tryout.   Walsh sent me a message saying he "respectfully declined" the tryout invitation.

Former Saints placekicker Garrett Hartley is on the market. This weekend, Hartley posted videos of him making long field goals at Tulane University.

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Kyle T. Mosley
KYLE T. MOSLEY

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