The Lions have seen enough and the plan is to release kicker Nate Freese today after the rookie missed another field goal opportunity late in the first half yesterday against Green Bay. In turn the team plans to sign Nebraska Cornhusker and former Eagles kicker Alex Henery who worked out for the team last week according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
The Detroit Lions are making a change at kicker, plan to sign Alex Henery today. Henery worked out for them last week
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) September 22, 2014
After being selected in the 7th round of this year’s draft, Freese barely won the job out of came competing down to the wire with Giorgio Tavecchio. Freese however struggled right from the start of the regular season showing no ability whatsoever to hit from beyond 40-yards out finishing overall 3 for 7 on field goals.
Henery on the other hand kicked for the Eagles from 2011-13 compiling the following record (via Pride of Detroit):
2011: 24-for-27 (88.9%), long of 51 yards
2012: 27-for-31 (87.1%), long of 49 yards
2013: 23-for-28 (82.1%), long of 51 yards
Either way it was a move that had to be made. The Lions aren’t a college team playing in a mid-major conference that can get away without a kicking game, especially after having the reliable Jason Hanson for so many years.
