tennessee3

Ryan Succop IRed, Greg Joseph in line for all the Titans' kicking against the Saints

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After hitting just one field goal in six attempts, including a low attempt from 45 yards that was blocked in Sunday’s 3-point loss to Houston, Ryan Succop has been put on injured reserve by the Titans.

It means incoming Greg Joseph is in line to handle all aspects of the job Sunday when the Titans host the Saints in Week 16. The Titans also released failed kickoff specialist Ryan Santoso on Tuesday.SuccopColts

It also makes clear that Cody Parkey, who had three good games between the Cairo Santo failure and Succop’s poor comeback from his extended recovery from knee issues, is virtually AWOL from the NFL kicking ranks. He’s not been mentioned as a tryout candidate anywhere else and the Titans probably would have given an edge to someone familiar. Parkey was with the team from Oct. 8 to Nov. 2.

[Unlocked]

The Titans have not connected on a field goal longer than 31 yards since Oct. 27 and currently have the lowest team field goal percentage (44.4) since the 1986 St. Louis Cardinals.

Their 10 misses between Santos and Succop with two games left in the season are more than the team has missed in any full season since relocating to Nashville. In 2001 and 2005 the team missed eight.

Joseph played in 14 games with Cleveland in 2018, connecting on 17-of-20 field goal attempts and 25-of-29 extra-point attempts.

He originally came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Miami out of Florida Atlantic but was waived before the season. He signed as a free agent with Cleveland on Sept. 17, 2018 and was waived before the start of this season. The Panthers added him to their practice squad on Nov. 25.

In six years with the Titans, Succop has hit 117-of-140 field-goal attempts (83.6 percent). Combined with his five seasons in Kansas City, his 82.23 percent rate is the 36th-best of all-time.

He kicked four game-winners for the Titans, a 53-yarder at Kansas City in 2016, a 47-yarder at Cleveland in OT in 2017, a 31-yarder against Houston in 2018 and a 28 yarder at Jacksonville in 2018.apple icon 144x144 precomposed

He signed a five-year $20 million contract in 2018 with $7.5 million guaranteed.

But he was on PUP at the start of camp after early offseason knee surgery didn't go as plan and left him with weakness and swelling. He came off PUP to kick in the final two preseason games, then went on IR because of a lack of strength. After eight weeks he was activated, but he didn't look anything like the guy who earned that contract.

Succop joined the team in 2014 as did Taylor Lewan, DaQuan Jones and Wesley Woodyard. Only Beau Brinkley (2012), Jurrell Casey (2011) and Brett Kern (2009) have been with the franchise longer. His future is now in question.

Brinkley and Kern will begin snapping and holding for Joseph on Wednesday.

You are not authorised to post comments.

Comments powered by CComment