Saints Release Kicker Daniel Carlson After 2-5 Start

The Saints have seen enough. New Orleans released veteran kicker Daniel Carlson on Tuesday after he made just 8 of his 12 field goal tries this season, handing the job back to practice squad kicker Charlie Smyth.

For a 2-5 team coming out of its bye, this is about stopping the bleeding. The Saints can't keep leaving points on the field in close games, and Carlson's 66.7% mark was tied for the second-worst in the NFL.

The Miss in Paris Sealed It

Carlson also missed two extra points in seven games, and the low point came in the 16-10 loss to the Steelers in Paris, when he missed a 52-yarder in a one-score game. Kellen Moore said after that loss that the spot would get a look during the bye, though he didn't commit to anything Monday.

"Obviously we just got to continue to evaluate the field goal opportunities," Moore said, per ESPN. "And so that'd be something that we'll just have to work through and discuss and find the best solution for Sunday."

It's a tough fall for Carlson, who was an All-Pro with the Raiders in 2021 and 2022 and spent eight seasons in Las Vegas. He sat in free agency for months before the Saints signed him in late August, after neither Smyth nor Tanner Brown won the job in camp.

Charlie Smyth Gets Another Shot

Smyth's story is a fun one. The Irishman came over through the International Player Pathway in 2024 and spent most of two seasons on the practice squad. When the Saints cut Blake Grupe late last year, Smyth kicked the final six games and made 12 of 16 field goals, which is 75%.

That's not a huge upgrade on paper, but the Saints clearly think he gives them a better shot than what they've been getting. It's the second shake-up of the week too. New Orleans fired run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti on Monday after running for 18 yards on 17 carries against Pittsburgh, and it also claimed running back Audric Estime off waivers from the Browns.

What's Next for New Orleans

The Saints host the 5-3 Browns at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 10 AM PT. That's Smyth's first chance to win the job for good.

The Smacktok lean: this offense scored 10 points and ran for 18 yards in its last game, so Smyth may not see many chances. We're leaning lower on Smyth's kicking points against Cleveland.