Tag: Brian Johnson

Panthers bringing in K Eddy Piñeiro for workout on Monday

In addition to Brian Johnson, the Panthers will also be working out Eddy Piñeiro on Monday for their suddenly open kicking duties.

We’re not sure if they can top last year’s extravaganza, but let the 2022 Carolina Panthers kicking competition begin!

According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the team will be bringing in Eddy Piñeiro for a workout on Monday. The 26-year-old is set to join Brian Johnson, who Person also reported on yesterday afternoon, in vying for the Panthers’ now open place kicking duties.

Those, of course, are open as a result of Friday night’s incident involving Zane Gonzalez—who slipped on the sideline while warming up during the third quarter of the preseason finale. On Saturday, head coach Matt Rhule told reporters that Gonzalez, who signed a two-year extension this offseason after a feel-good 2021 campaign, sustained a “significant long-term” injury.

Piñeiro, like Johnson, has ties to new Panthers special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. The University of Florida product joined Tabor’s Bears for the 2019 and 2020 seasons and, most recently, kicked for the New York Jets in 2021.

He has converted on 31 of his 36 career field goal attempts and 36 of his 39 extra point tries.

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Panthers reportedly working out former Saints, Commanders kicker

According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, the Panthers have already started their search for Zane Gonzalez’s replacement.

The Carolina Panthers took a number of positive developments out of Friday night’s preseason finale. But that preseason finale wouldn’t let the Panthers go without taking a chunk out of them.

Part of that chunk was kicker Zane Gonzalez, who was carted away into the locker room after injuring his groin on the sideline. The sixth-year veteran was warming up on the kicking net in the third quarter when he slipped on the presumably wet turf and went down.

Head coach Matt Rhule couldn’t confirm the exact diagnosis for Gonzalez on Saturday, but he did classify the injury as a “significant long-term” setback. Rhule also stated that the Panthers will now, obviously, be looking into outside options as Gonzalez’s replacement.

And that search, as first reported by Joseph Person of The Athletic, will apparently begin with Brian Johnson.

Johnson broke into the league last season as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears, where he briefly crossed paths with current Carolina special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. He would later stick on a bit with both the New Orleans Saints and Washington Commanders in 2021, booting through each of his 10 field goal attempts and nine of his 13 extra point tries.

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Commanders tender restricted free agent kicker Joey Slye

Washington kicker Joey Slye will return in 2022.

The Washington Commanders tendered restricted free-agent kicker Joey Slye Wednesday just before the new NFL league year began, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The tender is for one year at $2.4 million.

Washington signed Slye on Nov. 9 after releasing Chris Blewitt. Blewitt was signed to replace longtime kicker Dustin Hopkins, who Washington released on Oct. 20.

Slye was outstanding for the Commanders, kicking in six games and making all six of his field-goal attempts, including one from 56 yards. Slye’s only missed extra point was blocked. He began the season in Houston and also kicked for the 49ers as each team signed Slye after injuries to their regular kicker. Slye made all nine of his field-goal attempts between the three teams, including four from over 50 yards.

Slye will not be the only kicker on Washington’s offseason roster as the team is also bringing Brian Johnson back. Johnson, the kicker who replaced Slye after graduating from Virginia Tech, kicked in one game for the Commanders in 2021, nailing the game-winning kick.

It looks like there will be a full-time kicking competition this summer.

 

Ole Miss QB Matt Corral confirms meeting with the Eagles QB coach at NFL Combine

#NFLDraft2022 preparation is underway as #OleMiss QB Matt #Corral confirms #NFLCombine meeting with the #Philadelphia #Eagles brass

University of Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral will not be throwing at the 2022 NFL Combine but he is one of the busiest quarterbacks in Indianapolis this week.

After having already met with the Broncos and Steelers, Corral confirmed a mini-hoops meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Teams like the Broncos, Steelers, and Commanders are more likely to be in the hunt for Corral’s services, but Howie Roseman likes to do his due diligence and the Eagles will likely meet with all the top signal-callers this week in Indianapolis this week.

Corral (6-1, 205 pounds) completed 67.3% of his passes for 8,287 yards with 57 touchdowns against 23 interceptions in 37 games with the Rebels.

The confident gunslinger declined to throw at the combine this week because he is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered during the Sugar Bowl.

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling has Corral ranked as QB3 behind Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett and Liberty’s Malik Willis, and he may be recovered in time to workout at the Rebels’ pro day on March 23.

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Packers to interview Eagles’ quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson for vacant OC job

#Packers to interview #Eagles’ quarterbacks’ coach Brian Johnson for vacant offensive coordinator job after Paul Hackett was named head coach of the #Broncos

Jalen Hurts’ most trusted on-field confidant could be on the move, as Ian Rapoport is reporting that Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson will interview for the Packers’ vacant offensive coordinator job.

Green Bay has an opening after Nathaniel Hackett became the Denver Broncos’ new head coach.

The Packers have interviewed Chargers tight ends coach Kevin Koger, Packers quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Luke Getsy, and Packers offensive line coach and run game coordinator Adam Stenavich.

A former college quarterback at Utah who has known the Hurts family for years, Johnson just completed his first season with the Eagles after serving as the offensive coordinator for the University of Florida, helping get Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts to the NFL.

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How did Washington’s special teams perform in 2021?

How did Washington’s special teams perform in 2021?

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Late last week, Rick Gosselin of FanNation released his annual NFL Special Teams Rankings.

Gosselin ranked all 32 teams in 22 kicking-game categories. Points were assigned according to their standing — one for best and 32 for worst — and in the end, the Baltimore Ravens finished atop the rankings.

Washington placed 20th in the rankings with the Eagles close behind at 21st. BTW, Dallas placed 6th and the NYG rounded out the top ten.

DeAndre Carter’s kickoff return touchdown against Atlanta helped Washington finish third in kickoff returns category averaging 25.1 yards.

Washington did have some other success on special teams this season, as Tress Way was fifth in yards per punt at 48.4 yards.

Joey Slye kicking for three teams (Houston, San Francisco, Washington) placed 21st in yards per kickoff with 63.6. Washington, of course, was hurt in the kicking department this season, resulting in their releasing Dustin Hopkins and Chris Blewitt.

Slye had an extra point attempt blocked on MNF at home against Seattle. Even more, the kick was scooped up by Seattle and returned all the way, scoring two points. On the play, Slye pulled his hamstring during the return and was replaced by Brian Johnson who kicked three games for Washington before Slye’s return. Johnson kicked the game-winner against the Raiders in Week 13.

15 NFL teams did not have a kick blocked this 2021 season. Unfortunately, the team that was dead last at No. 32 was Washington. It was one of the real low marks of the season as Washington had an overwhelmingly embarrassing six kicks blocked during 2021.

But Joey Slye saved the kicking inconsistency for Washington upon his return. Slye would finish making 9 of 10 extra-point attempts and all 12 of his field-goal attempts for Washington.

 

Joey Slye kicking well for Washington in 2021

Has Joey Slye solidified himself as Washington’s kicker moving forward?

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Dustin Hopkins, Chris Blewitt, Joey Slye, Brian Johnson, Joey Slye.

Washington has used four kickers this season and Slye has twice been the guy.

Slye who kicked at North Stafford High and then Virginia Tech, was back Sunday and had a very good game against the Eagles in a 20-16 loss.

The former Hokie was good on all three of his attempts from 31, 39 and 55 yards. In fact, Slye has successfully converted all nine of his field-goal attempts and eight of nine extra points kicking for Washington.

Slye in 2019 and 2020 kicked all 16 games for …. you guessed it, the Carolina Panthers. He primarily kicked off in 2019 and added extra points and field goals in 2020.

However, Carolina cut Slye in this 2021 preseason (Aug. 28). Nearly a month went by when the Houston Texans added Slye to their roster on Sept. 23. Kicking in the next three games, Slye was successful on four of five field goals and seven of eight extra-point attempts but was waived by the Texans.

Claimed by San Francisco, Slye in three games was good on seven of eight field goals but missed two of four extra points and was subsequently cut by the 49ers on Nov. 2.

Nov. 9, Washington waived Blewitt and picked up Slye. Against Seattle in a home Monday night game, Slye had an extra point blocked, and during the two-point return, pulled a hamstring.

Enter Brian Johnson. Johnson was good on both of his field-goal attempts, including from 48 yards to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders.

Yet, Slye possesses the bigger leg, and Sunday’s 55-yarder to close out the first half was impressive.

Four kickers for an NFL team in one season, means there have been struggles, and close games lost. But Joey Slye is surely building his own confidence and the confidence of his teammates and coaches.

 

Brian Johnson kicks Washington past Raiders 17-15

Brian Johnson plays hero for Washington in his game for his hometown team.

Talk about pressure.

Washington kicker Brian Johnson newly signed this week, nailed his 48-yard field goal attempt with 37 seconds remaining, boosting the Washington Football Team to its 17-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

Washington (6-6) had led the entire game, only to see Raiders QB David Carr lead the Raiders 43 yards in eight plays, setting up Daniel Carlson’s 37-yard field goal with only 2:22 remaining, providing the Raiders (6-6) their first lead of the game.

In his last offensive snap, Washington QB Taylor Heinicke had thrown his only interception of the game to CB Nate Hobbs with 7:03 remaining, leaving the field frustrated and shaking his head.

Heinicke regrouped, completing four of his five attempts for 37 yards in Washington’s final offensive possession. On a drive that started at their own 25, Heinicke found John Bates for nine yards to the 34, Adam Humphries for ten yards to the Washington 48, Humphries for 12 yards to the Las Vegas 40, and Antonio Gibson for six yards to the Las Vegas 34.

Curtis Samuel then ran for three yards, and Washington faced the fourth &1 setting the stage for Johnson,  who had been waived by New Orleans on November 19, having missed three extra points this 2021 season.

Johnson had then been signed to the Bears practice squad November 23, and signed by Washington, November 30, becoming the fourth kicker for the Burgundy and Gold this season.

Being called upon to win or lose your first game with your third team this season, in the final minute and from 48 yards, the pressure was no doubt felt. Yet Johnson came through, narrowly keeping his attempt inside the right upright, kicking Washington to its fourth consecutive win.

Washington vs. Raiders game recap: Everything we know

Here’s everything we know after Washington’s 17-15 win over the Raiders in Week 13.

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The Washington Football Team won their fourth consecutive game Sunday with a thrilling 17-15 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. With the win, Washington improves to 6-6 and faces the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.

The game could not have begun any better for Washington, as quarterback Taylor Heinicke led the WFT on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to tight end Logan Thomas.

Washington’s offense would struggle the rest of the first half as it held onto a 7-3 lead going into halftime. The WFT defense was terrific in the game’s first 30 minutes.

In the second half, the Raiders and quarterback Derek Carr got going, and finally took a 15-14 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, Heinicke would lead Washington into field-goal position, where new kicker Brian Johnson drilled a 48-yarder to send Washington to its fourth straight win.

Here’s everything we know from the WFT’s latest victory.

 

 

Washington places Joey Slye on IR, signs another former Virginia Tech kicker to replace him

Washington placed kicker Joey Slye on IR and signed former college teammate, Brian Johnson, to replace him on the roster.

The Washington Football Team placed kicker Joey Slye on injured reserve with a designation to return on Monday, meaning he will miss a minimum of three weeks. Slye pulled his left hamstring in the first half of Monday’s win over the Seahawks.

Replacing Slye on the roster will be Brian Johnson, who Washington signed off the Chicago Bears practice squad. An interesting note about Johnson is he was the kicker who replaced Slye at Virginia Tech.

Johnson entered the league in 2021 as the Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent. He remained on the practice squad until the Saints signed him to their active roster on Oct. 12. Johnson kicked in four games for the Saints before he was waived on Nov. 19. Four days later, Chicago signed him back to its practice squad.

In those four games, Johnson all eight of his field-goal attempts, including one from 52 yards. However, he missed three of his eight point-after attempts, leading to his release.

Johnson, a Washington, D.C. native from Gonzaga High School, improved each season at Virginia Tech. He never missed a PAT in college and hit three field goals from over 50 yards in his senior season.

Johnson becomes Washington’s fourth kicker of the season. Slye had solidified the position since signing earlier in November. He made all six of his field-goal attempts and five of his six PATs. The one he missed on Monday night was blocked and returned for two points. That’s also when he was injured.

Slye is expected to return as Washington’s kicker once he’s healthy.