Riley Patterson kicked for two teams last season after leaving Jacksonville due to a decision made by Sean Payton in the middle of the offseason. In 2024, the former kicker for the Jaguars may get a chance to go back to work there.
According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, Patterson was given a reserve/futures contract by the Jaguars on Monday. In 2023, Patterson kicked for the Lions and Browns after being a Jaguar in 2022. Patterson is the sole kicker signed to the Jags’ offseason roster because Brandon McManus is not guaranteed to play in 2024.
The Jags’ preparations for kicker last year were altered by McManus’ unexpected availability. The Jags signed their veteran kicker as soon as the Broncos declared him a post-June 1 cut. Patterson was then returned to the Lions by them. Throughout his NFL career, Patterson has been a daily commuter from Detroit to Jacksonville. This season, he has kicked in 13 Lions games. Despite making 15 of his 17 field goals during his time with the Lions, he was cut by the NFC North champions due to an ongoing practice competition after Michael Badgley, their starting kicker for 2022, regained his position.
After Dan Campbell decided to go for two second-half fourth downs in field goal range, Badgley, who had been Detroit’s kicker all season, was famously left on the sidelines. In Cleveland, Patterson took Dustin Hopkins’ place as the starting kicker. With the Browns, Patterson, 24, made just one field goal attempt.
After being waived by the Lions prior to the 2022 season, Patterson went 30-for-35 with the Jaguars that year. In the wild-card round, he scored the game-winning field goal to cap off the team’s comeback victory over the Chargers. McManus was only 30-for-37 this season, missing five of his ten attempts to reach the 50-yard line. In March, McManus, 32, is expected to become a free agent.
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