Carolina Panthers cut Joey Slye

The Carolina Panthers will have a new starting kicker in 2021. Today, the team announced their decision to cut Joey Slye after two seasons with the team.

Earlier this week, the Panthers made a trade with the New York Giants for kicker Ryan Santoso. Evidently, that combined with Slye’s rough summer led to his release. 

Last night, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule paused Slye’s work-ethic and personality after the team’s 34-9 victory.

“He is a wonderful person,” coach Rhule said of the former Panthers’ kicker following Friday’s win over the Steelers, via NFL.com. “He has worked really hard. He has made a lot of kicks. He has done a lot of good things. 

“He is just in one of those places right now where he is struggling. When you struggle at a lot of other positions, people don’t know it. When you struggle at that position, unfortunately it is magnified.”

Yesterday, Slye missed a 49-yard field-goal in the second quarter of the game. Continuing, the former Virginia Tech Hokies’ kicker gave way to Santoso later in the game.

Following an impressive summer in New York, Santoso continued his success in his first game with Carolina. In his debut, the kicker made field-goals of 52-yards and 27-yards.

“It’s been a journey,” Santoso said to begin his press conference last night. “The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind, but it’s been a blessing.”

While Santoso couldn’t unseat former Panther Graham Gano in New York, he’s now sent Slye to free agency. As per the carousel of kickers, the now-former Panther will likely get an opportunity elsewhere sooner rather than later.

However, his time with the team in Carolina has come to an end. When the Panthers need a field-goal in 2021, they’ll call on the number of Ryan Santoso instead of Joey Slye.