The New Orleans Saints are evaluating veteran kicker Justin Tucker after their current kicker, Blake Grupe, struggled in a recent game against the Atlanta Falcons. Grupe missed two of his three field-goal attempts, prompting the Saints to look at other options.
Tucker, a seasoned player with many years of experience, is getting a tryout with the team. This comes after he served a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Saints head coach Kellen Moore spoke about Tucker’s tryout, recognizing Tucker’s past leadership role on a successful team. Moore acknowledged the unfortunate situation Tucker has faced and expressed interest in understanding his experience.
Tucker’s suspension was similar in length to a previous suspension given to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for similar reasons.
Before his suspension, Tucker played for the Baltimore Ravens for 13 years. During that time, he was selected for the Pro Bowl seven times and named an All-Pro five times. He also won a Super Bowl with the Ravens.
However, the Ravens decided to move forward without Tucker after he faced issues off the field. In 2024, Tucker’s performance dipped slightly as he made 22 of 30 field-goal attempts and missed two extra-point attempts.
Tucker’s wife, Amanda, has publicly supported him, stating that the allegations against him have caused their family significant pain.
In addition to Tucker, the Saints are also planning to evaluate Cade York for the kicking position. This suggests the Saints are seriously exploring their options to improve their kicking game. The kicking position is crucial in football, often determining the outcome of close games. A reliable kicker can provide a significant advantage to a team, while inconsistent kicking can lead to missed opportunities and losses. The Saints’ decision to evaluate multiple kickers shows their commitment to finding a dependable player for this important role.
