The New Orleans Saints Release Blake Grupe and Sign Cade York

Following a disappointing performance in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Saints waived Grupe on Tuesday, ending the young kicker's tenure with the team after nearly two seasons. In a corresponding move, the franchise signed former LSU standout and Cleveland Browns draft pick Cade York to the practice squad, signaling he will likely take over kicking duties moving forward.

The decision comes on the heels of a rough outing for Grupe during the Saints' 24–10 defeat against Atlanta. Grupe missed two field goals in the contest—attempts from 38 and 47 yards—which proved costly in a game where the Saints' offense struggled to find rhythm.

"You know he missed a couple and it's unfortunate. Because there's been a lot of good but we'll have to evaluate that. And um you know just get get a better feel for you know how that process went down, " said Coach Moore.

Those misses were part of a larger regression for the second-year kicker. After winning the job as an undrafted rookie in 2023, Grupe’s consistency dipped significantly in the 2025 season. Through 12 weeks, he had missed eight field goals, dropping his season conversion rate to just 69.2%, one of the lowest marks in the NFL.

"That's a frustrating one. Obviously, you know, I think the biggest and most important thing is we we got to go through this full process to you know understand how how this happened today," Saints head coach Kellen Moore told reporters after the Falcons loss.

The release of Grupe brings an uncomfortable narrative full circle for the Saints front office. In August 2023, the team made the controversial decision to trade veteran kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos, clearing the path for Grupe to start.

While Lutz has since signed a three-year extension and solidified himself as a reliable weapon for Sean Payton in Denver, the Saints find themselves starting over at the position less than two years later.

Cade York returns to a region where he became a college football legend. A fourth-round pick by the Browns in 2022, York is best known to Louisiana natives for his heroics at LSU, including a game-winning 57-yard field goal in the fog against Florida.

York's professional career has been turbulent. After a rocky rookie season in Cleveland led to his release, he spent time with the Titans, Giants, and Commanders. He most recently kicked for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 as an injury replacement, where he showed renewed promise, converting nearly 82% of his attempts.

By signing him to the practice squad rather than the active roster, the Saints maintain roster flexibility. However, it is widely expected that York will be elevated to the game-day roster for the team's upcoming Week 13 matchup.