Mike Nugent wins Patriots' kicking job

The New England Patriots named Mike Nugent their new kicker, the team confirmed Thursday.

The Patriots wasted little time while finding an interim replacement for longtime kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who will reportedly undergo season-ending hip surgery. Gostkowski is reportedly expected to be back in 2020.

Nugent beat out several other notable candidates for the gig during workouts at Gillette Stadium over the past few days, including Kai Forbath and Younghoe Koo.

Koo was able to secure a spot on the practice squad as a backup plan, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Nugent comes into a unique situation as just the Patriots' fourth field-goal kicker in the last 24 years. The 37-year-old joins a team known for playoff success following 13 years of kicking without experiencing triumph after December.

The former Buckeye has moved around quite a bit in his career, and the Patriots are his ninth NFL stop. Nugent last held a consistent job in 2016 when he went 23-for-29 kicking on field-goal and extra-point attempts for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Nugent will make his Patriots debut this Sunday against the 0-4 Washington Redskins.

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