The Washington Commanders plan to release kicker Jake Moody and give the starting job to undrafted rookie Drew Stevens, according to a source cited by Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.
With two preseason games remaining, Washington has ended its kicking competition.
Moody’s Camp Struggles and Stevens’ Lead
Moody went 36 of 47 in camp practices, missing five kicks in consecutive sessions before doinking a 29-yard attempt off the upright in Washington’s preseason win over Miami.
Stevens went 43 of 48 in practice and connected from 41 yards in that game.
The two kickers were neck and neck through the first week of camp, according to The Athletic, before Moody’s misses gave Stevens a clear lead.
Washington’s Kicker Turnover
Stevens is the 20th kicker to sign with Washington since 2020 and is set to be the eighth to play in a regular-season game for the franchise over the last two years, per The Athletic.
Last season, 73 NFL games were decided by three points or fewer, tying the league’s all-time single-season record.
Kickers also made 12 of 22 field-goal attempts from at least 60 yards, shattering league records.
Special teams coordinator Larry Izzo said in June that the key factor in the competition would be which kicker made the kicks.
Moody’s Time With Washington
Washington signed Moody off Chicago’s practice squad in November.
He played six games for the Commanders and went 10 for 11 on field-goal attempts, with his lone miss coming from 24 yards in the season-ending loss to Philadelphia.
Moody re-signed with Washington on a one-year, $1.5 million contract in March, weeks before the team signed Stevens as a college free agent.
The Commanders previously followed a similar path with Zane Gonzalez, whose late-season performance in 2024 earned him another contract before he was replaced by Matt Gay.
Stevens’ College Record
At Iowa, Stevens broke or tied school records for made field goals with 76, 50-plus-yard field goals with 12, and longest field goal at 58 yards.
He made 76 of 95 college field-goal attempts, or 80 percent, and missed two of 126 extra-point attempts.
Stevens said in May that his range extended to about 63 to 65 yards when outside conditions were not considered.
His longtime kicking trainer, Dan Orner, told The Athletic that he believed Stevens’ range could extend to 65 or 70 yards.
Stevens said he began kicking in high school after being recruited from the soccer team and that a varsity game-winning kick as a sophomore gave him an atmosphere he could not recreate in soccer.
