Smyth to return as starting Saints kicker on Sunday

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore has confirmed Charlie Smyth will start as kicker against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Smyth had been on the Saints’ practice squad with Daniel Carlson earning the starting slot for the season, but inconsistent form saw the 31-year-old’s contract terminated earlier this week.

On Monday, Moore said he would “evaluate” the situation and at Wednesday’s news briefing, he announced Smyth will start against the Browns at the Caesars Superdome this week.

“Charlie will kick this week,” he confirmed.

“[There have been] tough decisions. Daniel has made some really big kicks for us – it’s just the consistency thing. I just felt this is the best decision for our football team going forward.

“These things are never easy, but Charlie has done this for us at the backend of last year, so he will be ready to go.”

Smyth, a former Gaelic footballer from Mayobridge in County Down, made his NFL debut last season but returned to the practice roster after the Saints elected to bring in Carlson for the start of the current campaign after spending five seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Carlson had a success rate of 66% from 12 field goal attempts and his only perfect game with the boot came in September, when he landed three kicks against the Baltimore Ravens.

He made 16 of his 18 extra point attempts for the struggling Saints, who have just two wins from seven games this season, before his contract was terminated on Tuesday.

With the Saints opting not bringing any additional kickers into their squad, Smyth returns to the starting line-up.

The 25-year-old made 12 of 16 field goals and was successful on each of his 13 extra point attempts as a starter last season, after his historic NFL debut last November.

He had a mixed pre-season and dropped back down the practice squad after Carlson was selected to be the Saints’ first choice following a kicking competition ahead of the NFL season.

“When guys aren’t playing these games, not everyone gets to see all the work they do during the week,” Moore said of Smyth’s development in the practice squad.

“They still have a plan. Charlie has a plan going into every week [for] how is he going to get better, similar to [quarterback] Tyler Shough when he was on practice squad.

“The guys who don’t play on Sunday still have a plan to develop and get better, then opportunities like this present themselves and they are ready.”