Wil Lutz’s kicking percentage has plummeted to a concerning 72.7% this season for the Denver Broncos, a sharp drop from his career highs and a major headache for coach Sean Payton.
What’s Going On With Lutz’s Leg?
Broncos Country has been wringing their hands over the offense, but this kicker situation is quickly becoming a serious problem. Remember, Lutz came over in 2023 with Sean Payton from the Saints. Back in New Orleans, he was money, nailing 84.6% of his field goals (195 of 169 attempts). He even improved in Denver before this season, hitting 87.4% (97 of 111 attempts). That’s a solid trajectory, right?
Well, not anymore. This season, through five games, he’s only made 8 of 11 attempts. That 72.7% make rate is a massive dip, and it’s happening when it matters. He missed a 43-yarder in the first quarter against the Rams. Then, his 58-yard attempt in the fourth quarter against the 49ers was no good. And on Sunday, a 42-yarder against the Chargers couldn’t find the uprights. It’s still early, sure, but this trend isn’t looking good for a franchise that expects precision from its kickers.
Denver Expects Clutch, And Lutz Isn’t Delivering
Denver has historically had kickers who delivered when it counted. Guys like Jason Elam, who averaged 80.6% and tied an NFL record with a 63-yard bomb. Matt Prater hit 82.9% of his kicks and boomed a killer 61-yard field goal in 2021. And Brandon McManus was solid at 81.4%, even setting an NFL record at the time with a 64-yarder. These guys might have had slightly lower overall percentages than Lutz’s best seasons, but they were known for crushing those big kicks in clutch moments.
Lutz’s career longest field goal was 60 yards back in 2022. With Denver, he hasn’t hit one longer than 57 yards. If you can’t consistently connect on those monstrous kicks, you absolutely have to be consistent on the shorter ones. And based on these first five games, that consistency is just not there. The concern over Wil Lutz’s leg is becoming more and more justified with every miss.
Is this just a temporary blip on what’s been a solid career for Lutz, or is it a new, unforeseen challenge the Denver Broncos have to deal with? More importantly, if these struggles keep up, everyone’s wondering if Sean Payton will have the guts to make a change. Broncos Country will just have to wait and see what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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