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Amid questions about the status of rookie kicker Justin Rohrwasser, who has not kicked in nearly a week of consecutive training camp practices, the New England Patriots have turned to an old friend at the same position. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team is hosting free agent Nick Folk for a visit with the intention of re-signing the veteran kicker on Monday.
Folk, 35, had two stints with the Patriots during the 2019 season and is set to arrive with Rohrwasser’s immediate future unclear. New England drafted the latter with a fifth-round selection in April, and Rohrwasser was on the field kicking field goals during the Pats’ first padded practice this week. As the Providence Journal reported, however, the Marshall product recently went at least four straight practices without attempting any kicks, spending most of Friday’s session on a stationary bike.
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports Rohrwasser has been battling an injury, which is why he’s been absent from kicking drills.
If Folk is set to return as merely early-season insurance, it wouldn’t be his first time in that role. The ex-Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets kicker originally joined the Patriots in late October of 2019 following an injury to longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski and a short-lived stint by replacement Mike Nugent. Folk converted all five of his FG tries with New England in 2019 but was released roughly a month after arriving following an appendectomy. He later rejoined the team in December but became a free agent this March.
