Commanders sign kicker Michael Badgley

There will be an official kicking competition this summer.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8221″]

The Washington Commanders signed kicker Michael Badgley.

The Commanders brought in Badgley for a workout Monday and Ben Standig reported the Commanders had determined to sign the former Miami Hurricane kicker. Incidentally, Badgley played at Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, VA.

Badgley comes to Washington having just been released by the Detroit Lions July 20. With the Lions in 2022, Badgley was successful on 20 of 24 field goals and all 33 extra points.

Unlike last season when the Commanders released kicker Brian Johnson on June 13, this year they are choosing to provide kicker Joey Slye some competition in training camp and the preseason.

Slye, the former Virginia Tech kicker, has kicked in the NFL for the Panthers (2019-20), the Texans and the 49ers in 2021 before joining Washington in 2021.

In 2022, Slye converted 25 of 30 field goal attempts and missed four extra points going 24-28.

Earlier in 2022, Badgley connected on all four field goal attempts for the Bears but was reverted back to the practice squad and subsequently released on Oct. 4. The Lions wasted no time, signing Badgley the very next day.

In 2021 Badgley split time between the Titans and Colts. As a Titan, he missed on his lone field goal attempt and was 1-2 on extra points and was waived. With the Colts, Badgley connected on 18 of 21 field goals and all 39 extra-point attempts.

He spent his first three NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. In those three seasons, he made all 30 of his field goal attempts inside of 40 yards. Outside of 40 yards, he was 19-26, and outside of 50 yards, 3-9.

Badgley was undrafted and signed by the Colts before being waived during the preseason of 2018.