The Saints have been hunting for answers on special teams after a rough outing in Atlanta. New Orleans missed momentum when kicker Blake Grupe sputtered in Week 12, and the front office opened the door to auditions. The club brought in multiple kickers this week to figure out who’s steady enough for the job. After an intense workout, the Saints are going to sign kicker Cade York to the practice squad, per a source.
The Saints are set to sign kicker Cade York, according to multiple reports. The move follows a tryout day that included Justin Tucker and York, and it arrives as the Saints move on from Grupe. The report from Nick Underhill started this chain; NFL Network’sMike Garafolo also tweeted the roster change, noting that Grupe would be released.
Cade York in for the #Saints to the practice squad. Blake Grupe is being released, source says. https://t.co/EGaIdYH36c
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 25, 2025
Saints to Sign Kicker Cade York After Standout Workout
Carolina Panthers, Cade mays
Aug 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers guard Cade Mays (64) during pregame warm ups against the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans wanted a workout that actually solved a problem. The 24-year-old former LSU fourth-rounder showed up and drilled enough to beat out the high-name option, according to sources. That matters: this is about immediate reliability, not headline grabs. Blake Grupe missed two kicks in the recent loss, and the team moved quickly to audition kickers, a pragmatic reaction after a game that exposed inconsistency.
He’s bounced through several clubs since being drafted in 2022, and he converted 9 of 11 field goals in five appearances with the Bengals in 2024, including a 59-yarder on tape. The Saints are buying upside in a young leg that can flip field-position and handle pressure kicks while keeping options open if the experiment doesn’t stick.
A workout day, a sharp showing, and a practice-squad contract that lets the team evaluate him under live-team prep conditions. It’s a low-risk, high-reward approach. New Orleans keeps flexibility on the roster and gives the kicking room time to settle before Week 13. Fans should expect York to handle practice reps and possibly receive game-day elevation if the staff continues to push for a better field-goal percentage on Sunday.
It’s a roster transaction tied to performance and urgency, but the core is straightforward: The Saints are set to sign kicker Cade York after an eye-catching workout.