:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65877359/JoshGable2.0.jpg)
The New England Patriots returned to practice today to start their on-field preparation for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Among the 61 men present for the media portion of the session — wide receiver Julian Edelman and defensive tackle Byron Cowart were not spotted — also were three new players, who the team apparently added to its practice squad. One of them, as first reported by ESPN’s Field Yates, was kicker Josh Gable.
Gable is no unfamiliar name in New England: the former professional soccer player, who played in Italy and Belgium, began his football career with the Nebraska Danger of the Indoor Football League and already was brought in for a tryout by the Patriots in 2017. At the time, New England did not sign him and he ultimately returned to the IFL and later also saw action with the developmental Spring League.
Apparently, however, he impressed the team enough to get another call earlier this season after the team’s original place kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, had to be placed on season-ending injured reserve: Gable came in for another workout before the team ultimately signed the since-released Mike Nugent. It seems as if he did something right, though, as the team now signed him to its developmental roster as a backup to Nick Folk.
Gable, of course, has made a name for himself as a trick-shot kicker on YouTube. While his in-game accuracy in the IFL was mediocre — he made just six of 16 field goal attempts last season, and went 50-for-57 on extra points — his trick-shot compilation does show him successfully make an 82-yard attempt at one point. Sure, the wind did help and there were no players surrounding him, but it is safe to say that Gable has a strong leg: