It was clear that kicker Zach Hocker’s days as a New Orleans Saint were numbered last Thursday when he missed 51-yard and 48-yard field goals against the Falcons.
Hocker’s job was already on the line when he missed a potentially game winning, 30-yard field goal against the Cowboys. The Saints ultimately won the game in overtime.
Now the Saints have clearly grown tired of waiting on the young kicker. The Saints will release Zach Hocker and sign veteran Kai Forbath, sources told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
Forbath, 28, was cut after one game with the Redskins this year after spending three seasons with them. He has made 50-of-69 field goals and 91-of-93 PAT attempts.
Saints coach Sean Payton said early in the season that he wished Hocker or Hopkins would have clearly separated themselves during training camp. But that never happened. Hopkins was more consistent throughout camp and during practice, but Hocker came up with some big kicks in the preseason.
Still, it was slightly surprising that the Saints elected to go with Hocker over Hopkins. It was clear they were never totally comfortable with the decision, bringing in veteran kickers for tryouts immediately after making the roster move, and then again once Hocker started to struggle.
Hopkins has played in five games for the Redskins, making 10-of-11 field goals, including a long of 54 yards, and all nine PAT attempts.
In six games for the Saints, Hocker has made 9-of-13 attempts, with a long of 51 yards.
The Saints have been a revolving door of kickers lately, cutting longtime kicker Garrett Hartley late in the 2013 season and replacing him with Shayne Graham, who lasted one season before he was cut before OTAs.
CBS Sports first reported that Hocker would be released.