After placing Stephen Gostkowski on injured reserve because of a hip injury that will cost him the remainder of the season, the New England Patriots brought seven kickers in for tryouts. Among the group of free agents to visit Foxborough was 15-year veteran Mike Nugent, who eventually won the job and was signed to the Patriots’ 53-man roster as Gostkowski’s replacement. Just three days later, he played his first game for the team.
All in all, his Patriots debut against the Washington Redskins was a mixed bag: Nugent made five kicks, but hooked his first attempt — an extra point that would have tied the game at seven in the first quarter — wide to the right.