Report: Saints Host Several in a Kicker Tryout

The Saints hosted a few players, including one accomplished veteran, for kicking tryouts according to reports.

New Orleans Saints K Blake Grupe converted five of six field goals in last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but missed a 54-yard attempt with 30 seconds remaining. He was also treated for a groin injury late last week. This prompted the Saints to host several kickers for a tryout on Tuesday, according to Nick Underhill of neworleans.football. 

Underhill reports that the following kickers worked out for the Saints this afternoon. 

Taylor Bertolet

Oct 9, 2022; Los Angeles Chargers kicker Taylor Bertolet (12) and holder JK Scott (16) celebrate after a field goal against the Cleveland Browns. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Bertolet, 31, attended Texas A&M, Dennis Allen's alma mater. He's been on the practice squad of nine different NFL teams since 2016, but has only seen NFL action for one squad. 

Bertolet appeared in two games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022. He converted all six of his extra point attempts and was 3-for-3 on field goals. All three field goal tries were between 20-29 yards.

Bertolet has also kicked in the AAF, CFL, and USFL. He was with the Salt Lake Stallions (AAF) in 2019, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) in 2021, and New Orleans Breakers (USFL) in 2022.

Mason Crosby

Sep 13, 2020; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) kicks a field goal against the Minnesota Vikings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The most accomplished of today's tryout kickers, the 39-year-old Crosby has been in the NFL for 16 seasons. He has not played for a team in 2023 despite earlier tryouts with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. 

All of Crosby's 16 years were spent with the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay selected him in the sixth-round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He's converted 81.4% of his career field goal attempts, including over 55% from beyond 50 yards.

In 2022, Cosby was 25 of 29 (86.2%) in field goal attempts. He was only 1 of 4 from beyond 50 yards, but converted 6 of 7 between 40-49 yards. 

James McCourt

Aug 19, 2023; Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker James McCourt (12) kicks an extra point against the Detroit Lions. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY

McCourt has yet to see regular season action for an NFL team. He converted 5 of 6 field goals during preseason action and has spent time on the practice squads of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers. 

McCourt, 26, kicked collegiately at Illinois. In three seasons for the Fighting Illini he hit 71.2% of his field goal tries but missed only one of his 84 extra point attempts. 

An undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, Grupe beat out accomplished veteran Wil Lutz in training camp. Lutz was traded to the Denver Broncos before the start of the season. 

Oct 19, 2023; New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe (19) makes a field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY

Grupe has converted all 19 of his extra point attempts but is just 80% on field goal tries (24 of 30). He is 7 of 8 between 20-29 yards, 5 of 5 between 30-39, 7 of 9 between 40-49, and 5 of 8 from beyond 50 yards. Lutz has hit 92.3% of his field goals (24 of 26) for the Broncos. 

Grupe was responsible for all of the Saints points against the Falcons last week. The fact that the Saints are trying out kickers is most likely due to the fact that Grupe was on the injury report last week rather than performance. New Orleans (5-6) hosts the 8-3 Detroit Lions this Sunday.