The Patriots will put kicker Stephen Gostkowski on injured reserve today, and are holding tryouts today in Foxborough to decide who will succeed him, according to league sources.
Jim McBride of the Globe was first with the Gostkowski news.
He could return this season if the team decided to use one of their two designated spots. Other possible returners: Isaiah Wynn, N'Keal Harry, James Develin.
Gostkowski had made seven of eight field goals, but missed four of his 15 extra points. He had never missed more than three in any previous season.
The last time Gostkowski missed time due to injury in 2010, Shayne Graham was signed and made all 12 of his field-goal attempts. He did miss two extra points.
What was Gostkowski's possible injuries, and who are the players that might be included in the tryout?
There have been unconfirmed rumors that Gostkowski had been battling a hip injury this season. It looked like he was having trouble getting his leg through on some of his kicks, including Sunday against the Bills when he missed an extra point wide right from the left hash.
UPDATE: Adam Schefter reports it is indeed a left hip injury and that he'll have season-ending surgery.
We previously went over some of the candidates available:
- (Reportedly taking part) Kai Forbath, 32, hasn’t kicked in 16 games since 2017 when he made 32 of 38 field goals with the Vikings with three missed coming from 50+. He also missed five extra points. Forbath appeared in three games for the Jaguars last season and was 4 of 5 on field goals (lone miss at 50+) and was 3 of 3 on extra points.
- Giorgio Tavecchio, 29, kicked for the Raiders in 2017 and spent three games with the Falcons last season. He is 21-of-26 on field goals and 41-of-42 on extra points for his career. He booted a career-long 56-yarder in a win over the Giants last season.
- (Reportedly taking part) Elliott Fry, 24, went 14-of-14 for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football. Fry was 3-of-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points with the Bears and Ravens this preseason.
- Younghoe Koo, 25, kicked the first four games for the Chargers last season and was released after he went 3 of 6 on field goals. But he did make all nine extra points.
- Tristan Vizcaino, 23, lost a camp battle with the Bengals against Randy Bullock. The underdog hit a 57-yard field goal in Cincinnati’s second preseason game while also converting attempts from 47, 38 and 22 yards out. He was 5 for 5 on extra points.
- Greg Joseph was 17 of 20 on field goals but 25 of 29 on extra points in Cleveland last season.
- Sebastian Janikowski, 41, was last seen costing the Seahawks a playoff victory over the Cowboys when he pulled his hamstring on a 57-yard field goal attempt.
- Kaare Vedvik has been waived twice by the Jets this season, after the Vikings traded for him from Baltimore.
- Veterans Mike Nugent, Blair Walsh and Cody Parkey.