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by mikemac 3000 days ago
That's a good point though - a lot of times the backup kicker or punter on an NFL roster is someone from a totally different skill position.

Ndamukong Suh is a 300 pound defensive tackle but he was the emergency placekicker for the Dolphins for 2017. There are a bunch of QBs who can punt as well.

1 comments

It's not common for those backups to actually kick, but it does happen. Wes Welker was placekicker for the Dolphins for one game as a rookie in 2004, besides being the team's kick and punt returner. He successfully converted both kicks he attempted. He did not catch a pass in that game, despite being nominally a wide receiver (and a future Pro Bowler at that position). Six years later, at New England, he served as the backup placekicker again and made a single extra point, finishing his career perfect as a kicker.

The legendary quarterback Doug Flutie kicked the last successful "drop kick" in the NFL for an extra point in 2006. However, that was more of a novelty than out of necessity; New England's kicker was healthy, they were well ahead in the game, and the team knew Flutie would retire after the season.