Saints Sign Cade York After Grupe’s Field Goal Struggles

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have signed kicker Cade York to their practice squad following a workout on Tuesday. This move comes after the release of kicker Blake Grupe, who struggled with accuracy in the team’s recent game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Grupe, who missed two field goals in the Saints’ 24-10 loss on Sunday, had made only 69.2% of his kicks this season. Following his release on Tuesday, Grupe expressed gratitude for the organization and optimism about future opportunities. He stated, “I can’t wait for my next opportunity to prove what I can do.”

York, 24, previously played for several teams, including the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of LSU and has made 33 of 45 field-goal attempts during his career. York has not been on an NFL roster this season but impressed team officials during his tryout.

The Saints also considered former Pro Bowl kicker Justin Tucker for the position. Tucker, who has been one of the top kickers in the NFL, was released by the Baltimore Ravens in May following a suspension related to personal conduct violations. Tucker’s legal issues stemmed from allegations made by several massage therapists.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore noted the team’s rationale for bringing Tucker in for a workout: “He’s been a really good kicker in this league for a really long time, and he’s had a ton of success.”

Despite Tucker’s impressive credentials, the Saints decided to move forward with York, who will compete with practice squad kicker Charlie Smyth for the starting role. With this signing, the Saints, currently 2-9, aim to solidify their special teams as they head into the final stretch of the season.