While Wil Lutz struggled, Brandon McManus was perfect in Week 1
Denver Broncos fans can’t help but keep track of Brandon McManus’ performances with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
McManus was Denver’s full-time kicker from 2015-2022, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. He was unceremoniously dumped by Sean Payton this offseason, with the new coach citing the best interests of the team — including cap space — as a reason.
McManus quickly landed with the Jaguars.
Denver originally brought in Elliott Fry and Brett Maher after cutting McManus but following underwhelming summers, both kickers were cut. Payton then traded a seventh-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for Wil Lutz, who kicked for Payton from 2016-2020.
Making his Bronco debut on Sunday, Lutz first missed an extra point attempt before later missing a 55-yard field goal attempt wide right. He did later convert a PAT and a 24-yard field goal, but his two misses proved to be costly in a game that ended up being decided by one point.
Meanwhile, in Jacksonville, McManus went 1-of-1 on his 45-yard field goal attempt and 4-of-4 on extra point attempts on Sunday. Maher, who landed with the Los Angeles Rams, went 3-of-5 on field goal attempts and 3-of-3 on extra point attempts in Week 1.
By switching from McManus to Lutz, Denver saved $2.05 million in salary cap space this offseason. If Lutz doesn’t start performing better in the coming weeks, fans will soon wish the Broncos looked elsewhere to create cap space — if they aren’t wishing that already.
