The Denver Broncos made a somewhat surprising roster move earlier this week when they cut kicker Elliott Fry.
Fry had been competing with Brett Maher for the team’s kicker job this summer and he was the only one who converted a field goal in the team’s preseason opener. Fry was waived with an injury designation, but Payton seemed to imply that the cut was not solely because of the injury.
“With Elliott, it was just a pull,” Payton said on Aug. 15. “It’s nothing significant. We’ll go day-to-day with where we’re at with the kickers.”
The injury not being significant seems to suggest that Denver released Fry for performance, not due to injury. Maher is now left as the only remaining kicker on the roster, but that doesn’t mean he has already won the job.
Maher will be “competing” against kickers on other teams who might become available after 53-man rosters are set later this month.
“I’ve said this to you guys before — Brett had a good day today — he’s competing,” Payton said. “He’s competing with himself because he’s got 31 other teams. There are probably seven teams that have a real kicking battle, so he’s competing with those guys that come out of those clubs. That doesn’t discount us, possibly, if we wanted to bring in another player.”
One kicker battle that’s worth monitoring is Wil Lutz vs. Blake Grupe with the New Orleans Saints. Whichever kicker does not end up making the Saints’ final roster could be a target for the Broncos.
For now, Maher is Denver’s guy, but he’ll be looking over his shoulder.
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