Patriots to sign kicker Joey Slye

Slye was let go by the Jaguars on Tuesday. Jacksonville — which already rostered Riley Patterson — was one of the teams that added a kicker during the draft, making Slye expendable. 

The latter is a veteran of 78 games, however, and he will provide experienced competition for Chad Ryland in training camp.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, Ryland had an underwhelming rookie season. The 24-year-old connected on only 64 percent of his field-goal attempts, including just 5-of-10 kicks from between 40 and 49 yards. 

Ryland did miss only one of his 25 extra-point attempts, but his 2023 performance did not compare well with that of Nick Folk, whom New England released last offseason.

Ryland is still under contract for three more years on his rookie pact, but teams often move quickly in terms of finding replacements at the kicker position when it is deemed necessary. 

Slye, 28, could step in as the team’s preferred option depending on how he fares during training camp and the preseason. The former UDFA has experience with the Panthers, Texans and 49ers, but much of his regular-season action has come with the Commanders.

Slye spent six games in Washington during the 2021 season, and he went 12-of-12 on field goals in that span. That earned him an extended stay in the nation’s capital, and he remained the team’s full-time kicker in 2022 and 2023. 

Slye saw his accuracy drop to 83.3 percent and then 79.2 percent over the past two seasons, though, and the Commanders added Brandon McManus in free agency. That left Slye on the move to Jacksonville before the draft, but he will now turn his attention to earning a roster spot in New England.