Saints’ Shock Tryout: Kellen Moore Calls on Justin Tucker - Special Teams Gamble or Genius?
The New Orleans Saints made news this week when they hosted disgraced kicker Justin Tucker.
Saints coach Kellen Moore explained what the thought process was in bringing in Tucker for a tryout this week before the organization signed Cade York on Tuesday.
Tucker, of course, is one of the greatest NFL kickers off all time but was released by the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason after more than a dozen accusations of sexual misconduct from massage therapists.
York previously kicked for the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders over his four-season NFL career. He will replace Blake Grupe, who was cut by the Saints earlier this week.
Kellen Moore Wanted To ‘Collect’ Information About Justin Tucker’s ‘Experience’
The Saints are one of the NFL’s youngest teams, and Moore is a rookie coach. He was interested in Tucker’s experience — the kicker spent 13 seasons with the Ravens before they cut him — but also learning about what Tucker has gleaned from his suspension.
“He’s been a really good kicker in this league for a really long time, and he’s had a ton of success and he’s been a leader for Baltimore for a long time,” Moore said. “He’s been one of their leaders for an extended period of time with a very successful team and so obviously there’s been some stuff that’s been unfortunate.
“He’s gone through an experience, and I think it’s about collecting what that experience was, and we’ll evaluate the football aspect of it and we’ll evaluate everything else as well.”
Tucker had held the NFL record for longest made field goal until Cam Little of Jacksonville Jaguars broke it with a 68-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this year.
Interestingly, aside from the allegations, Tucker is coming off the worst season of his NFL career in 2024. He made just 22 of 30 field goals and went 60 for 62 on extra points — his two missed PATs was tied for the most in a single season over his career.
“Just like a lot of players, there’s the field component of this thing,” Moore said. “You get guys in here to evaluate them, but also you just want to get to know the people and get to know maybe a circumstance here and there and certainly he had a suspension in the league, he’s served that suspension.”
The Saints Made The Right Call Not Signing Justin Tucker
Grupe had made just 18 of 26 field goals this season and clearly needed a change of scenery, but signing Tucker would have been a bridge too far — especially for a young team and coach looking to build a culture.
The NFL is a meritocracy — especially at the placekicker role, since as Grupe proved, you get cut simply for missing kicks. There may ultimately be a place for him to sign with a club but not less than two weeks after the NFL reinstated him.
Packers Make Final Decision on Josh Jacobs Before Thanksgiving
Getty
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 10: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on November 10, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
It was a busy day for the Packers on Wednesday, as the team tries to bounce quickly back from Sunday’s dominant defensive performance against the Vikings to take on the Lions, a must-win game if Green Bay wants to give itself a top-level chance to win the NFC North. The Packers come in at 7-3-1, and are 2-0 in the division, while the Lions are 7-4.
The Packers made one decision on the offensive side, opting to keep receiver Jayden Reed out for another week as he returns from collar-bone and foot injuries. When they put out their injury report on Wednesday, it was clear they’d made another, too: They were ready to get running back Josh Jacobs back on the field.
Jacobs was not on Wednesday’s injury report, which means he is good to go for the Lions.
Josh Jacobs In Need of Consistency
Jacobs had hurt his knee in Week 11 against the Giants. He wanted badly to play in Week 12, but the team held him back and Jacobs vowed he would return on Thanksgiving. He’s followed through on that.
Last year, Jacobs proved to be a shrewd addition by the Packers’ front office, as he went for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus another 342 yards as a receiver. This year, Jacobs is running behind a reconfigured and oft-injured offensive line, and the result have been rough at times. Jacobs has not had a 100-yard game this season and is on pace for a much more modest 1,037 yards on the year.
Jacobs definitely needs consistency and momentum to be effective. The Packers are hoping he gets more of that down the season’s stretch run.
As offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Jacobs, “It takes a little time in the run game to just get things going and the more opportunities you get the more momentum you can build. When you’re able to give Josh (Jacobs) the ball that many times, he’s going to start popping some and he’s going to wear people out.”
Packers Could Use Emanuel Wilson More With Josh Jacobs
With Jacobs out against the Vikings, RB2 Emanuel Wilson stepped up with 28 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers like to use Wilson as a change-of-pace back, but there is a case to be made for him to get more carries–he had just 53 coming into Week 12. Wilson for one said he’d like that chance.
“It’ll be crazy,” Wilson said of a one-two punch with Jacobs. “When Josh comes back, when he gets going I will try to match his energy. Today, I just tried to do that. … I just went out there and did my job. The guys believe in me so I tried to make every opportunity count for them.”
