Justin Medlock has missed his last three field goal attempts, which is a big part of the reason why any future tries will take place as a member of a team other than the Panthers.
Carolina made a change at kicker on Tuesday, dropping Medlock and signing former Redskins K Graham Gano. Medlock made all seven of his tries through Week Eight, including a 5-for-5 day in a 23-22 loss to the Bears, but he’s missed a field goal in each of the team’s last three games. Medlock’s miss against Tampa in Week 11 came just before halftime and loomed large when the Buccaneers came back to tie the game at the end of regulation before winning it in overtime.
“You’ve got to make kicks. I’m not here to make excuses. They were good snaps, good holds,” Medlock said, via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. “You miss two kicks in the NFL, you can be unemployed.”
Medlock was a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in 2007, but got cut by them after he went 1-for-2 on field goals in his first game. He spent time with several CFL teams before signing with the Panthers before the season and beating out Olindo Mare this summer.
Gano, who worked out for the Panthers on Tuesday before signing, lost a training camp battle to Billy Cundiff in Washington, didn’t get the call when the Redskins reversed course and cut Cundiff during the season. Gano made 31-of-41 field goals with the Redskins in 2011 and 59-of-80 during his three years with the team. According to Person, Nate Kaeding also worked out for the team Tuesday before they signed Gano.
