Smyth rejoins Saints' practice squad
Northern Irish kicker Charlie Smyth remains with the New Orleans Saints after being re-signed to the team's practice squad following his release from the main roster.
The New Orleans Saints have re-signed kicker Charlie Smyth, from County Down, Northern Ireland, to their practice squad.
On Sunday it was confirmed the Mayobridge native had missed out on a spot in the team's 53-man roster ahead of the new NFL season and had been placed on the waiver wire. That gave rival teams a chance to claim the former Gaelic footballer, but none did so before Monday's 17:00 BST deadline passed.
As a result, Smyth returns to the practice squad, where he spent his entire rookie season and began last season too, before being elevated to the active roster for the Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins following Blake Grupe's release.
He was elevated again over the following two weeks, and a game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers helped him secure a three-year contract under head coach Kellan Moore, finishing the season as the team's first-choice kicker.
Last season, Smyth converted 12 of 16 field goal attempts and all 13 extra-point tries, putting him in a strong position to claim the starting job again this year.
However, the 25-year-old endured a mixed pre-season, first facing competition from Tanner Brown before the Saints signed former Las Vegas Raiders two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson, who kicked a 53-yard field goal to win the team's final pre-season game against the Dallas Cowboys.
With Carlson claiming the starting role, both Smyth and Brown were waived, and neither was signed by another team on Monday as the Saints finalised their 16-man practice squad.
Because Smyth retains his International Player Pathway (IPP) status, he was eligible to be added as a 17th practice squad member, an option the Saints have taken up — keeping him in New Orleans for a third season since completing the programme.
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