Wil

Lutz

Lutz drilled a 54-yarder in the thin air of Denver but missed his sixth field goal of the season. Lutz now has multiple field goal tries in nine games this season, making him a reliable weekly play in all fantasy formats.

Lutz earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors last week by converting 5-of-5 field goals in the Broncos’ Week 11 win over the Chiefs. Lutz has converted 17-of-20 field goals and 24-of-24 extra points this season. The deal keeps him with the Broncos through his age-34 season.

Lutz was a new addition to the practice report with an illness Tuesday. The Broncos play on a short week with a Thursday game against the Raiders, so Lutz’ addition is notable as he has two days to get ready. We often see players not miss time with an illness, so expect Lutz to play barring any setbacks.

Lutz was reportedly set to join the Jaguars on a three-year deal, but has now decided to stay in the Mile High City. In his first season with the Broncos, Lutz converted on 30 of his 34 field goal attempts, and is an 85.2 percent kicker for his career.

Lutz followed former Saints head coach Sean Payton to Denver last season and converted on 30 of his 34 attempts in his lone season with the Broncos. Lutz is a career 85.2 percent kicker on field goals and has made 20-of-34 attempts from 50-plus yards. Lutz will replace another former Bronco in Brandon McManus, who made 81.1 percent of his attempts with the Jaguars last season.

Head coach Sean Payton acquires his former kicker in New Orleans after Brett Maher seemingly had the starting job locked up. Maher will likely be released and Lutz — who missed much of the 2021 season with a groin injury — will kick for Denver this season. He makes for a decent fantasy option in Denver, and Blake Grupe — the only other kicker on the New Orleans roster — becomes an interesting sleeper option in fantasy leagues.

While the exact number for Lutz’s 2023 salary wasn’t disclosed, the veteran kicker was set to earn $3.4 million in base salary next season. After going 23-of-31 on his field goal attempts last season, Lutz was a prime candidate for the team to target as they aim to get under the salary cap. Underhill notes that Lutz’s contract was not restructured. He’s set to be a free agent after this upcoming season.

Lutz made the announcement Tuesday morning on Twitter. The veteran was designated to return from a groin injury that had kept him sidelined for the season’s first six weeks, but wasn’t able to suit up Monday night against the Seahawks. Brian Johnson -- who is, for now, the Saints’ kicker -- made both of his field goal tries and an extra point in New Orleans’ win over Seattle. The Saints have the fewest field goal attempts of any team (6) through Week 7. A top fantasy option for much of the Drew Brees era in New Orleans, Lutz won’t kick again until 2022.

Lutz will return to practice this week after missing the Saints’ first five games of the season while recovering from core muscle surgery. Aldrick Rosas opened the year as New Orleans’ starting kicker before getting cut. Cody Parkey was then signed but landed on injured reserve after one game. If healthy, the timing on Lutz’s return will work out perfectly. He has a 21-day window to be officially activated.

Parkey hurt his groin in pregame warmups before the Saints’ Week 5 win against Washington. He played through the injury and missed two of his five extra point attempts in his only game with New Orleans. The team hopes to get Wil Lutz (groin) back from IR after their Week 6 bye. Lutz wouldn’t be a priority add in fantasy leagues. The Saints have attempted four field goals in five games.