Commanders have blatantly obvious solution to ongoing kicking dilemma

It's no secret that the Washington Commanders have a kicking problem on their hands. Those in power wanted to see what Riley Patterson - claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars - could do with extended reps after releasing Ramiz Ahmed. What followed was nothing short of catastrophic.

Patterson badly missed two field goals during Washington's second preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. He also made two, but this was another body blow to his chances of making the 53-man roster in 2024.

The consensus now centers on the Commanders' starting kicker in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not being on the squad right now. Adam Peters will be monitoring developments closely around the league. One player, in particular, should be on Washington's radar with final cuts on the immediate horizon.

Commanders should monitor kicker Austin Seibert ahead of final cuts

Austin Seibert isn't going to beat out Greg Zuerlein for the New York Jets job. What the kicker's done is enhance his chances of getting employment elsewhere when his fate is eventually sealed in the coming days.

Seibert's been outstanding throughout the Jets' offseason program. He looks like a starter and is catching the eye during preseason involvement, bolstering his hopes further with an outstanding display versus the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.

The former fifth-round selection out of Oklahoma nailed all four of his field goal attempts, including a long from 52 yards. Seibert also comfortably made his only field goal when coming up against the Commanders in Preseason Week 1.

Considering how poorly things have gone for Washington since Brandon McManus' release, he looks like an immediate upgrade. The Commanders will do their due diligence on every kicker that becomes available, but it's hard to ignore the momentum being generated by Seibert at the best possible time.

Washington holds the No. 2 priority on the NFL's waiver wire order behind the Panthers. They already have Eddy Pineiro, so adding another kicker would be surprising. That leaves the Commanders with their pick of others, which isn't a bad spot to be in.

Seibert's career has promised much but delivered very little so far. He's got an 80.4 percent field goal percentage, making 90.3% of his extra points over four stops. That doesn't exactly scream dependability, so much will depend on whether Peters can find a suitable alternative.

One thing that cannot be disputed is Patterson's precarious situation. A monumental effort is needed from the kicker to improve his predicament. Even that might not be enough to preserve his roster status, but it's the only option he has following an inconsistent start to life in Washington.

If Seibert finishes the Jets' preseason finale on a high, it would be surprising if he didn't get another job elsewhere. The Commanders are arguably more desperate than anyone to find a productive kicker capable of coming through in clutch situations. Based on the player's recent trajectory, there are far worse options available.

Perhaps someone with Greg Joseph's experience might be another possibility depending on how things shake out with the Green Bay Packers. But if the Commanders want to take a gamble on someone with more long-term upside, Seibert is the guy.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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