Detroit Lions cut last season's kicker Michael Badgley, leaving 2 to battle at camp
The Detroit Lions have made a major change to their special teams unit.
Kicker Michael Badgley was released Thursday, a source confirmed to the Free Press, in a surprise move ahead of Lions veterans reporting to NFL training camp Saturday at Allen Park.
Badgley is healthy after missing time with a groin injury this spring.
He made 20 of 24 field goals and all 33 extra point attempts in 12 games with the Lions last season. He initially joined the team in October and helped to stabilize a poor kicking game.
ANOTHER ROSTER MOVE: Lions place rookie QB Hendon Hooker, two others on non-football injury list
The Lions had signed Badgley, 27, to a one-year deal in March.
Riley Patterson and Parker Romo are the team's two kickers on the roster. The Lions traded a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to Jacksonville for Patterson in May. The Jaguars reportedly were set to waive him after signing former Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus.
Patterson, 23, lost a Lions training camp battle last season to Austin Seibert. Patterson was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars and in 17 regular season games made 30 of 35 field goals and 36 of 37 extra points. He made all three field goals and four extra points in two playoff games.
Patterson in 2021 as a rookie kicked in seven games for the Lions. He made 13 of 14 field goal attempts and all 16 extra points.
Romo, 25, kicked in the XFL this year and signed on after a strong rookie minicamp tryout in May. He made 17 of 19 field goals for the San Antonio Brahmas in the spring to earn All-XFL honors.
Lions special teams coach Dave Fipp in May mentioned Romo's leg strength as an advantage over Badgley, right before the Lions then traded for Patterson.
“Badgley, obviously, played well for us a year ago," Fipp said. "He’s a very accurate kicker. Might not have some of the leg strength and all that as some of these guys, but then the guy we brought in, John Parker Romo, he’s got a big leg, he’s talented, he’s been really good for us. I think it will be a good competition and excited to see how it plays out.”
NFL Network first reported the news.
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions cut kicker Michael Badgley ahead of training camp
