Breaking News: Saints Release Blake Grupe, Sign Cade York to Practice Squad in Bold Move
NEW ORLEANS, LA — November 26, 2025 – In one of the most shocking decisions of the 2025 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints have released kicker Blake Grupe, a player who had been widely regarded as one of the team’s most reliable and promising bright spots. The move came just hours after Grupe missed two crucial field goals in a heartbreaking loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and the Saints wasted no time in bringing in former LSU star Cade York to the practice squad.
Grupe’s sudden departure has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads, especially considering his impressive resume and key role in the Saints’ success over the past two seasons. The young kicker had been an integral part of New Orleans’ special teams since earning the starting job in 2023. His powerful leg and clutch performances in critical moments had earned him the moniker of “the most promising young kicker in the NFC South.” Yet, a few costly misses have led to a dramatic change in the Saints’ approach to the position.
Grupe’s Rise and Fall
Blake Grupe’s journey in New Orleans had been nothing short of impressive. After an outstanding rookie campaign in 2023, he quickly became a fan favorite and solidified his place as the Saints' go-to kicker. Grupe’s ability to deliver clutch field goals under pressure helped seal vital victories for the team, including several key wins during their 2023 playoff push. His accuracy, especially from long distances, was considered one of the brightest spots on a team that had dealt with inconsistency elsewhere.
However, Grupe’s season took a turn for the worse during the Week 12 loss to the Falcons. His two missed field goals — one of which came in the final moments of the game — proved to be the final straw. The misses were costly, and with playoff hopes on the line, head coach Kellen Moore made the decision to part ways with the kicker who had been a reliable presence just a year ago.
A Difficult Decision for Head Coach Kellen Moore
In a late-night press conference following the transaction, Moore addressed the shocking move, expressing disappointment but not anger over the decision. “It’s hard to believe it ended this way,” Moore said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Blake gave us so much and helped deliver big wins. But the recent results forced us into a difficult decision. If I had to name the one move that disappoints me the most because of what it could have been, this would be it.”
Moore’s words reflect the internal conflict the Saints’ organization has felt about this move. Grupe’s early career was filled with optimism, and the team had hoped that he would be a long-term solution at kicker. However, the pressure of high-stakes games and missed opportunities led the Saints to seek a change.
Cade York’s Arrival: A New Chapter?
With Grupe gone, the Saints turned to Cade York, a kicker with a storied college career at LSU but a turbulent professional journey. York gained national attention during his time with the Tigers, most notably for his game-winning 57-yard field goal in a fog-shrouded victory over Florida. However, York’s NFL career has been marked by inconsistency, with stints in Cleveland, Tennessee, New York, and Washington, all of which ended under less-than-ideal circumstances.
York’s signing marks an opportunity for him to resurrect his career, and he will be elevated to the active roster for the Saints’ Week 13 game against the Carolina Panthers. The team’s hope is that York can bring stability to a position that has seen its fair share of ups and downs in recent years.
Saints Fans Divided
The decision to release Grupe has sparked mixed reactions among Saints fans. Some express sadness at the departure of a kicker who had provided so much promise early in his career, while others see York as a fresh start and an opportunity to stabilize one of the most critical positions on the team.
As the Saints continue their push for the playoffs, the spotlight will be on York and how he performs under the bright lights of the Superdome. Will he bring the stability the team so desperately needs? Or will the Saints soon regret moving on from a young kicker who once seemed destined for greatness?
The High-Stakes Gamble
This bold move by the Saints represents a high-stakes gamble that could either pay off or backfire. If York can find his form and provide consistency in the kicking game, it could be the “reset” the Saints have needed. However, if York struggles or the kicker position continues to be a liability, the decision to release Grupe may go down as a regretful chapter in the franchise’s history.
For now, all eyes will be on the Saints’ kicking game as they face the Panthers this Sunday — a crucial game in their playoff pursuit. With Grupe’s exit and York’s arrival, the Saints have made it clear: they are not content with mediocrity at the kicker position, and they are willing to make bold moves to secure their postseason hopes.
Vikings All-Pro Speaks Out On JJ McCarthy’s Play After ‘Tough’ Start
The Minnesota Vikings‘ season has not gone to plan. On the one hand, the defense has not managed to take that step forward into becoming one of the league’s elite units – although they are still 11th in total defense.
But the bigger issue has concerned the offense, where quarterback, JJ McCarthy has severely underperformed relative to even modest pre-season expectations.
Under him, the team have just a 2-4 record – worse than that of backup, Carson Wentz, who went 2-3 in his 5 starts, and who also exhibited far superior general play to the second year pro – and McCarthy himself has a quarterback rating of 57.9, the second worst in the league behind only rookie fifth rounder, Shedeur Sanders, who has just one career start to his name.
As much of the support for McCarthy has rapidly become to collapse amongst the Vikings’ fanbase, as his performances have failed to generate much to be enthused about, one player remains hopeful.
Justin Jefferson Shares His Thoughts On JJ McCarthy
All-Pro wideout and former Offensive Player of the Year, Justin Jefferson – another “JJ” – spoke to the media on Wednesday, and shared his thoughts on the team’s starting quarterback’s play over the course of his first six starts.
#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson says JJ McCarthy’s first 6 games was “tough,” but he still remains confident that he will bounce back:
“I feel like he’s gonna bounce back in a different way than everybody else is gonna think so.”
“Tough, I would say”, Jefferson said when asked to describe McCarthy’s first six starts as a pro, “All in all just because it’s early. He’s new to the game, he’s new to the NFL. He’s learning just like everyone else had to learn as a rookie. And he obviously had to go through the mental stage of having to overcome an injury in the first year.”
Jefferson emphasized the struggles of being a young player early on as part of the former Michigan man’s steep learning curve in adjusting to the pro game, but expressed confidence that McCarthy will surprise people and manage to push on from his struggles so far this season.
“Just a tough transition for him. But I feel like just him learning these past couple of games and of course learning the stretch of the season. I feel like he’s going to bounce back in a different way than everybody else is going to think.”
JJ McCarthy Has Had A Difficult Start To His NFL Career
McCarthy has faced not one but two layoffs that have seen him miss substantial time over the course of his first two years in the league.
The first – a meniscus tear – kept him out for the entirety of his rookie season, although with former starter, Sam Darnold’s excellent play throughout the year, it is quite possible he would have remained on the sidelines for the duration of 2024, irregardless of the status and his health.
And the second one; a high ankle sprain suffered in the blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons back in September; saw him miss a month-and-a-half of action in the early part of the 2025 season.
Now the onus is on JJ to starting stringing together more consistent play post-snap, as the season enters a critical juncture heading into the final six weeks of the regular season.
