Former Patriots kicker Nick Folk, named Titans starter, is grateful for preseason competition

Updated August 31, 2023, 3:44 p. m. For two days, the Titans had no kickers on their roster.

At some point during those two days, Bill Belichick called Nick Folk, who had kicked the last four seasons for the Patriots, to tell him the Titans were interested. Not long after that, Folk was on a plane to Tennessee, and Titans coach Mike Vrabel named Folk the Week 1 starter on Thursday. “Nick is our kicker,” Vrabel said.

“We feel really good about him and what he’s done and what he will do. ” The Patriots received a 2025 seventh-round draft pick in exchange for the 15-year veteran. He lost his job in New England to rookie Chad Ryland, a fourth-round pick out of Maryland.

“I enjoy the competition,” Folk said. “I’ve kind of always said if you can’t enjoy the competition and embrace it, then the NFL’s not going to be too long for you … A lot of times you’re competing against yourself, but to have someone there is fun, too. ” Get Breaking Sports Alerts Be the first to know the latest sports news as it happens, and get the Globe's most interesting reporting right to your inbox.

Folk, 38, is the only kicker on the Titans’ active roster — they added Cade York to the practice squad on Thursday — and he will be responsible for kickoffs as well as field goals and extra points. Folk kicked off sparingly in his time with the Patriots,a combined 16 across his first three seasons in New England. He earned a few more reps during the 2022 season, totaling 33, but punter Jake Bailey handled the majority.

Bailey was released in March. Folk told the Nashville media on Thursday that he worked on his kickoff technique during the offseason. The other obvious change for Folk following his transfer to Tennessee? The weather.

“I enjoy playing in the cold, so it was a good time up there, but I’m excited to be here,” he said. .

By Emma Healy Globe Staff
·
Filed 09.01.2023

Latest Player Notes

How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...

Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day

Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...

How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects

By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...

Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team

Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...

College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond

The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...

Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback

San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...

Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall

Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...

Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather

CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...

Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense

Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...

Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game

With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...
See More Player Notes