Patriots release kicker Josh Gable from practice squad after two-day evaluation

The New England Patriots practiced with two kickers this week. But Nick Folk would not be accompanied by Friday.

As reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots have released Josh Gable from the practice squad.

Gable did not play college football. The 29-year-old instead played professional soccer in Italy and Belgium. Yet Gable, known for his YouTube trick-shot kicks, has played for the Nebraska Danger, Iowa Barnstormers and Tucson Sugar Skulls in the Indoor Football League since then. He’s also participated in The Spring League.

This week marked his first NFL stint.

“We had a spot available on the practice squad,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said of Gable during his Friday press conference. “It gave us an opportunity to look at him, a younger kicker. But we’re going with Nick, so that’s not really – we’ll worry about that next year.”

The Patriots invited Gable to rookie minicamp back in 2017. He revisited Gillette Stadium for a free-agent workout this fall after all-time Patriots scoring leader Stephen Gostkowski went to injured reserve.

Wednesday and Thursday provided an extended look at the reserve-futures candidate.

“Rather than just come in and do a workout, we were actually able to kick with the team and put him on the practice squad for a couple days,” added Belichick. “So, put that in the bank and maybe it comes up later on at some point in time down the road. Maybe it doesn’t. I’m not sure. We’ll see how it goes.”

Four kickers have checked into games for New England since the regular season began. Gostkowski’s hip surgery led to Mike Nugent, Folk and then current Dallas Cowboy Kai Forbath.

Folk, who underwent an appendectomy in late November, returned to New England’s operation last weekend. The 2007 Pro Bowler has gone 8-of-11 on field goals and 4-of-4 on extra points.