Stephen

Gostkowski

Happy Fourth of July weekend, everybody. Yes, it’s a slow news period, but Gostkowski’s status was worth checking in on. One of the best kickers in league history had an awful 2020, making just 69.2 percent of his field goals. He has yet to retire, however, and the Titans have only former UDFAs Tucker McCann and Blake Haubeil on their 90-man roster. Although he is headed into his age-37 campaign, it is possible Gostkowski gets one more shot at claiming the Titans’ starting job. Another veteran also figures to be added unless either McCann or Haubeil lit up pad-less practices.

Fact check: true. Veteran Stephen Gostkowski was a complete disaster in 2020, converting just 69.2 percent of his field goal attempts. That’s a number that would have gotten basically any other kicker cut. Now 37, Gostkowski is headed to free agency. Vrabel has said he “needs to talk” to Gostkowski, but we would assume the Titans will be going in a different direction.

The veteran missed Week 17’s win over the Texans after being placed on the COVID list December 28. Gostkowski heads into the postseason after a rocky campaign, missing eight of his 26 field goal attempts and two extra points. The Titans will trust Gostkowski with the pressure of playoff kicks.

It’s unclear if Gostkowski tested positive or if he was simply a close contact. If it’s the latter, there’s still more than enough time for him to keep isolated and be cleared for Sunday’s showdown against Houston. Tennessee will turn to Sam Sloman, who was 8-of-11 on field goal tries with the Rams this year, from the practice squad if Gostkowski can’t go.

Sloman made eight of 11 field goal tries and 18 of 21 extra point attempts this season with the Rams. He would be an insurance policy for veteran Stephen Gostkowski, who’s had a disastrous season, missing eight of 23 field goal attempts along with two extra points. Almost any other kicker would have been cut by now. Sloman would have immediate fantasy relevance on a Titans team that generates plenty of neutral and positive game script, which allows for more field goal tries.

It’s not exactly stunning after Stephen Gostkowski’s cringe-inducing struggles this season. The veteran has missed seven of 17 field goal tries -- including a potential game winner two weeks against against Pittsburgh -- along with two extra points. Whoever kicks for the Titans should see solid opportunity in an offense that moves the ball efficiently.

“For a guy that’s a career 87 percent field goal kicker, I think a lot of those corrections are going to be on him,” coach Mike Vrabel said. “But it’s also on us to make everything around him better.” Gostkowski appeared in an increasing fog following each Monday shank, but Vrabel showed remarkable faith by trotting out for a potentially game-winning 25-yard attempt with 0:17 remaining. Gostkowski drained it and breathed a massive sigh of relief. Gostkowski can’t afford anymore multi-miss weeks, but he should get back on track.

Tennessee’s new kicker had surgery on the injured hip in October and remained in New England for rehab. Gostkowski should be a usable fantasy option on a Titans team that doesn’t see much negative game script. A little regression in the team’s red zone success - they scored touchdowns on a league best 77.6 percent of red zone possessions in 2019 - and Gostkowski could see consistent file goal opportunity in 2020.

An addition was inevitable after the Titans waived K Greg Joseph on Thursday. Released by the Patriots back in March, Gostkowski played in just four games due to injury last season, connecting on 7-of-8 field goals and 11-of-15 extra points. UDFA Tucker McCann remains on the outside looking in ahead of Saturday’s final cuts.

The Titans also brought in former New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski recently. Hauschka has been below 80 percent on his field goals for the past two seasons while Gostkowski hasn’t dipped under that mark since 2010. The Bills released Hauschka after rookie Tyler Bass won the kicker camp battle in Buffalo. Whoever Tennessee signs is likely to take the starting job from the incumbent kicker, Greg Joseph.