Time running out on Commanders to find solution to kicking woes

The Washington Commanders have a kicking problem. 

While specialists around the league set records and sign big-money contracts, Commanders fans are watching field goal attempts slip through the team’s hands instead through the uprights this training camp and preseason.

Contending teams like the Ravens, Chiefs and Cowboys have invested more resources into their stable kickers, while the rebuilding Commanders have struggled to find anyone who can regularly put the ball through the goalposts.

The kicking woes cost the Commanders in Saturday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Riley Patterson — the only kicker on Washington’s roster — converted just two of four field goal attempts in the 13-6 loss.  

“We’ve got work to do,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “We’ve got practice next week. We’ll see where it takes us. But I was pleased to see Riley come back.”

It was an up-and-down night for Patterson, who missed a 49-yarder to the left and a 43-yard attempt to the right. He rebounded and converted kicks from 46 and 38 yards away.  

Patterson is the third kicker the Commanders signed this offseason, the latest in a revolving door at the position. Veteran Brandon McManus was projected to be the starter, but the franchise released him after two women accused the kicker of sexual misconduct. Ramiz Ahmed was next to join the squad, but he was released partway through an unimpressive training camp.

If the Commanders want to become a playoff contender, they’ll need to find a reliable leg for high-leverage situations. The NFL’s top teams are placing an increased value on one of the most underrated positions in football.

The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, for example, gave the ever-reliable Harrison Butker a record-setting 4-year, $25.6 million contract this offseason.

While the conservative Catholic kicker has stirred controversy off the field, he offers a steady leg between the hashes. The 29-year-old converted all of his extra points and missed just two of his 35 field goal attempts during last season’s Super Bowl run.

“For me, it’s just getting in field-goal range in some of these situations.  … and knowing that once we cross the 50 we’re pretty much good to at least get to overtime,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said earlier this month. “It’s something that you have to just rely on, and it’s something that’s just fun to have, honestly.’‘

In Baltimore, Justin Tucker has kicked his way to an eventual Hall of Fame induction with the perenially contending Ravens. A 2022 Pro Football Focus study estimated that Tucker’s leg accounts for an extra 0.27 wins per season over a replacement player, making him one of the 40 most valuable non-quarterbacks in the league.

The Cowboys — the Commanders’ division rivals — added a valuable leg after their second of three consecutive 12-win seasons.

Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 66-yard field goal during Saturday’s preseason action. The NFL’s NextGen Stats estimated that the kick would’ve sailed through the upright from up to 72 yards away.

If it were a regular-season game, the 29-year-old would’ve tied Tucker’s record for the longest field goal in NFL history.

The Cowboys plucked Aubrey off the streets last offseason. The former soccer player quickly cemented his place on the roster by converting an NFL record 19 consecutive field goals to start his career.

If Patterson can’t improve before the regular season, the Commanders will likely look elsewhere at kicker. To stay competitive in the ever-shifting NFL, Washington will want to find the next Butker, Tucker or Aubrey — a dynamic and consistent kicker to put points on the board.

Among current free agents, veteran Randy Bullock is likely the best option if Quinn adds more competition before the end of training camp. Bullock has converted 83% of his field goals in stops with the Bengals, Giants, Texans and Titans.

The Commanders could also wait until the Aug. 27 cut-down day to see who becomes available. There are a handful of kicking competitions around the league, and the losers of those competitions could find their way to the D.C. area.

The Commanders got a close look at Jets kicker Austin Seibert — New York’s second kicker — during a joint practice and preseason game this month. The 27-year-old impressed against Washington.

“I think Seibert is better than a lot of kickers that are employed in the NFL right now,” Saleh said after the Commanders game. “I just wanted to give him some tape and give him an opportunity for other teams to see.”

The common belief is that Washington’s Week 1 kicker isn’t on the roster right now, but Quinn says he still believes in Patterson.

“In the pregame, he hit over 60 yards today,” the Commanders’ coach said Saturday. “He was really ready. Those are hard when you don’t nail the performances when you really feel ready, so we got work to do there.”