The Washington Football Team tried out four players Monday, including former Virginia Tech kicker Joey Slye.
Slye is the most intriguing name of the four. Washington has struggled in the kicking game this season.
Longtime kicker Dustin Hopkins was released after nearly seven seasons with the team following a Week 6 loss. Hopkins struggled in 2020 and those struggles appeared to carry over into the 2021 season. He missed two field goals and two extra points in the first six games.
Washington signed the inexperienced Chris Blewitt as a replacement for Hopkins. Blewitt’s inexperience has shown from the onset. He has played in two games since his NFL debut in Week 6. However, three of his first five field goal attempts have been blocked.
Despite Hopkins’ struggles, many pointed to the veteran being more reliable than a kicker who had never kicked in the NFL before and not since 2016.
Nevertheless, last week Washington head coach Ron Rivera said he was sticking with Blewitt. Rivera went as far as to say the team was not bringing in a kicker for competition during an appearance on 106.7 the Fan’s The Sports Junkies.
It’s unclear if Slye is considered competition or a potential practice squad addition. But, bringing in another kicker catches the radar of many fans.
Slye is a local kid, playing at North Stafford High School in Stafford, Virginia. He then played four seasons at Virginia Tech. Unlike Blewitt, Slye has experience kicking in the NFL.
Slye has made 65-of-81 field goals attempts (80.2%) and 73-of-83 (88%) extra points since entering the NFL in 2019. He played two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, including his first with Rivera.
This season Slye kicked for the Houston Texans and most recently San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers waived him on Nov. 2 after primary kicker Robbie Gould returned from injured reserve.
