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As the end of the preseason draws nearer, the Washington Commanders reportedly made a move to bolster their special teams unit.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Commanders traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to acquire kicker Cade York.
The acquisition of York places incumbent kicker Riley Patterson’s spot on the roster in jeopardy. The Commanders had claimed him off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars last month, but he hasn’t convinced the team that he’s the right man for the job. In Washington’s first two preseason games, Patterson was a combined 2-of-5 on field goal attempts.
A 2022 fourth-round pick by the Browns, York was set for his second stint in Cleveland. The team waived him in 2023 after acquiring kicker Dustin Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers. He split the 2023 season between the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants practice squads before re-signing with the Browns in March.
In York’s rookie season, he went 24-of-32 on field goals. He made both of his attempts during the preseason this year. The Commanders are hoping that he will bring consistency to the team in the event that they’re forced to move on from Patterson.
Washington is beginning a new era with newly hired head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The team is looking to put the right pieces in place to help the franchise return to prominence.