Saints elevate kicker Charlie Smyth for Week 15 matchup vs. Panthers

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints announced their Saturday roster moves ahead of their Week 15 tilt with the Carolina Panthers.

The team will elevate kicker Charlie Smyth to the game day roster. Along with him, wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr.

Smyth has been the team’s go-to kicker since moving on from former starter Blake Grupe following a rough Week 12 outing. This will be his first regular season game kicking inside of a dome and not in the rain. It will also be his first start in front of home fans since the preseason.

This will be Smyth’s final standard elevation from the practice squad. After this week, if the Saints want to continue ahead with him as their kicker, they will have to sign him to the active roster.

New Orleans also has former LSU kicker Cade York on its practice squad. Getting a look at both Smyth and York would be a sensible approach to gauging the future at the position beyond 2025.

Smyth will get his third run as the team’s primary placekicker and kickoff specialist, a big opportunity to earn the role for the remaining stretch of the season.