Not-So Brief History of Modern Washington Kickers, Part II

Now that 2021 is in the books for the old Football Team and the new name is on the way, I present Part Two of the Not-So Brief History of Modern Washington Kickers. Part One is here.

Billy Cundiff: 2012, 5 Games
Replaced: Graham Gano 
Replaced by: Kai Forbath

 Billy Cundiff was signed to start the 2012 season, but only lasted 5 games going 7-12 including a 1-4 game in a 24-22 win over Tampa Bay. His Redskins stop was only a small part of his 136 game NFL career which included a Pro Bowl and 1st Team All Pro in 2010, 3  NFC Special Teams player of the Week awards, and a record tying 7 field goal night on Monday Night Football.

Kai Forbath: 2012-2015, 41 Games

Replaced: Billy Cundiff, John Potter

Replaced by: John Potter, Dustin Hopkins

Forbath replaced Cundiff, and currently holds the team record with a 87% make rate He held the job from his NFL debut in 2012 until 2015 when he was cut after one game and replaced by Dustin Hopkins. Jay Gruden said at the time they were looking for a stronger leg, especially on kickoffs.

John Potter: 2013, 3 Games
Replaced: Kai Forbath

Replaced by: Kai Forbath

Forbath did come with some injury issues, enter John Potter for weeks 2, 3 & 4 of 2013, going 3-4 on field goals. These would be the last 3 games of Potter's 9 game NFL career.

Zach Hocker: 2014, 0 Games
Replaced: Nobody

Replaced by: Nobody

Bonus kicker! Zach Hocker was drafted by the Redskins in the 7th round of the 2014 Draft, but failed to beat out Forbath for the job. He would made his NFL debut in 2015 playing in 8 games between the Saints & Rams.

Dustin Hopkins: 2015-2021, 93 Games
Replaced: Kai Forbath, Nick Rose

Replaced by: Nick Rose

Dustin Hopkins lasted the longest of the Snyder era kickers at 93 games and his 84% accuracy is second to Kai Forbath among regular kickers. He also serves as the last Redskins kicker and first for the WFT.  The problem was not the frequency of kicks made, but more the timing of the misses, finally being cut after 6 games of the 2021 season.

Nick Rose: 2017, 8 Games

Replaced: Dustin Hopkins

Replaced by: Dustin Hopkins

Nick Rose filled in for 8 games when Hopkins was injured in 2017 going an impressive 10-11, but failed to catch on anywhere else

Chris Blewitt: 2021, 2 Games
Replaced: Dustin Hopkins
Replaced by: Joey Slye

Maybe the most ridiculous entry is Chris Blewitt. Blewitt had not kicked in a meaningful game since 2016, but was signed in 2021 to replace Dustin Hopkins. Blewitt lasted 2 games going 2-5 with 3 blocks. That's right, he had more Field Goals blocked than made.

Joey Slye: 2021, 6 Games
Replaced: Chris Blewitt
Replaced by: Brian Johnson

Slye had kicked for Ron Rivera in Carolina and was brought in the replace Blewitt. After being cut by The Texans & 49ers earlier in 2021, Slye went 12-12 on field goals for Washington and will most likely return in 2022.

Brian Johnson
Replaced: Joey Slye
Replaced by: Joey Slye

In true 2021 weirdness, Joey Slye would hurt himself chasing down a Seattle player after what else, a blocked point after. He would miss 3 games and Brian Johnson would fill in going 2-2. Including his 4 games earlier in the season with the Saints, Johnson is 10/10 on career field goal attempts, but only 9/13 on point after attempts. After Slye returned for the last 3 games of 2021, Johnson was kept on the roster, but inactive as Washington carried 2 kickers.

This brings us to the end of the WTF era, hopefully whatever goofy name we pick, maybe it will bring better luck with kickers.