56-yard field goal and a rare onside kick<\/a> on his debut, the 24-year-old had mixed fortunes in the surprise victory over the Buccaneers.<\/p>\nSmyth missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt in the driving rain, but his 30-yard effort tied the game in the closing stages of the third quarter.<\/p>\n
He was perfect from his three extra point attempts, but failed to hit the landing zone late in the game from a kick-off but the Buccaneers could not capitalise on the error.<\/p>\n
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Moore said he would not “overreact” to the missed kicks, and Smyth has “done plenty of good”.<\/p>\n
“He can take a growth opportunity here, both at kick-off and in a field goal situation,” Moore said.<\/p>\n
“He’ll respond really well.”<\/p>\n
NFL rules say a player can be elevated three times from the practice squad before they must be made a permanent fixture in a team’s 53-man roster.<\/p>\n
That means that if Smyth impresses against the Panthers, the Saints would need to sign him before selecting him for a fourth match.<\/p>\n
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Smyth earned his opportunity after regular kicker Blake Grupe was waived by the Saints, and he came through a competition against veteran Cade York to earn his shot at the NFL.<\/p>\n
Moore said that both players will be “ready to go”, but “we feel good about Charlie”.<\/p>\n
“This is a great opportunity for him. Resiliency? Facing adversity? Perfect,” he said.<\/p>\n
“He gets to have a game where he missed one and he will get to respond the way he needs to.”<\/p>\n
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Former Down GAA goalkeeper Smyth had been a member of Saints’ practice squad as part of the NFL’s international player pathway programme after signing his first contract in March 2024.<\/p>\n
He is only the third placekicker from the island of Ireland to feature in a regular NFL game, after Neil O’Donoghue between 1977 and 1985 and Jude McAtamney in each of the past two seasons.<\/p>\n
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