Update 9/5/2020: Patriots’ kicking competition ends with both Justin Rohrwasser and Nick Folk released
After a previous report that the Patriots had parted ways with rookie Justin Rohrwasser, they now made the surprising decision to also release the man who looked like the winner of the kicking competition: Nick Folk was also let go by the team.
K Nick Folk
Folk originally entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and was voted to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season. He was let go again in 2010, however, and went on to join the New York Jets with whom he spent a combined six seasons. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017, but ended his season prematurely due to injury before spending 2018 out of football. A stint in the short-lived AAF was finally followed by the Patriots picking him up as a free agent midway through last season.
The veteran did a solid job in New England filling in for Stephen Gostkowski: he appeared in eight games for the club and made 16 of 19 field goal attempts as well as all 13 of his extra point attempts. He was not re-signed as a free agent, however, and only brought back in mid-August to compete against Rohrwasser. While he appeared to look solid, the team decided to part ways with him nevertheless.
Original story 9/5/2020: Justin Rohrwasser’s release ends the Patriots kicking competition
Following the release of the team’s all-time leading scorer, Stephen Gostkowski, in March, the New Engalnd Patriots decided to invest a fifth-round draft pick in Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser. Midway during training camp, veteran Nick Folk was also added to the equation to compete against the youngster. Now, the competition is over: Folk is the winner, Rohrwasser has been let go by the Patriots.
K Justin Rohrwasser
Rohrwasser may have a stronger leg than fellow place kicker Nick Folk, and eventually a higher ceiling as well. His inconsistency throughout training camp was worrisome, however, and eventually ended up costing the rookie a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster. There is a chance the team brings him back via the practice squad, however, to continue develop him behind the scenes.
Before arriving in New England, Rohrwasser spent two years at the University of Rhode Island as well as two more at Marshall. During his college career, he was successful on 77.5% of his field goal attempts (48 of 62) and on 96.7% of his extra point kicks (118 of 122). Rohrwasser also saw time as a kickoff specialist, and in 2018 registered a pair of fumble recoveries on kick coverage.