Saints Release Former All-pro Kicker Daniel Carlson After Another Missed Fg In Loss To Steelers

The New Orleans Saints are in the market for a new kicker.

The Saints announced on Tuesday that they have released veteran kicker Daniel Carlson after Carlson missed another field goal in a 16-10 Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Carlson missed a 52-yard attempt with 9:42 remaining that would have cut Pittsburgh's lead to 16-13. He finished the game hitting 1-of-2 field goal attempts, dropping his season success rate on field goals to a career-low 66.7% (8 of 12).

Carlson hit all of his field goals up to 49 yards with the Saints, but was 3 of 7 on attempts from 50-plus yards. His release ends his tenure with the Saints after seven games.

Head coach Kellen Moore addressed the team's kicking issues during his Monday news conference, foreshadowing Carlson's release.

"Obviously we just got to continue to evaluate the field goal opportunities," Moore said, per ESPN. "And so that'd be something that we'll just have to work through and discuss and find the best solution for Sunday."

Carlson, 31, is a nine-year NFL veteran who was named All-Pro twice with the Raiders in 2021 and 2022. He spent seven-plus seasons with the Raiders before joining the Saints in the offseason.

The Saints are coming off a Week 8 bye and will need to replace Carlson before facing the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. New Orleans comes out of its bye at 2-5, in last place in the NFC South.

The Saints have Charlie Smyth on their practice squad and could return to him if they don't sign another kicker. Smyth hit 12-of-16 field goal attempts in six games with the Saints in 2025 in his only NFL experience. The Saints signed Carlson after Smyth failed to win the job in training camp.