Saints Release Kicker Grupe, Sign York to Practice Squad

The New Orleans Saints released struggling kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday and signed Cade York to their practice squad after tryouts earlier in the week that included veteran Justin Tucker, addressing a position that has plagued the team's 2-9 record this season.

Grupe, an undrafted rookie free agent signed by the Saints in 2023, had made just 18 of 26 field goal attempts through 11 games, including two misses in a 24-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. His 69.2 percent success rate prompted the change. In a social media post, Grupe expressed gratitude to the organization and fans, writing, "This organization took a chance on me and I've given everything I had to them and this city every Sunday for these last 3 years. Thank you New Orleans."

The Saints invited Tucker, a 36-year-old former Baltimore Ravens standout, for a workout on Monday, marking the first such opportunity for the seven-time Pro Bowler since his 10-game suspension ended earlier this month. Tucker, who spent 13 seasons with the Ravens and won a Super Bowl in 2013, was released by the team in May following allegations of sexual misconduct involving massage therapists. The NFL suspended him for violating the...