According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk on Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans have signed kicker Michael Badgley of Summit, New Jersey. Badgley is actually returning to the Titans as he played one game for them in the 2021 National Football League regular season. He has also kicked three seasons for the Los Angeles Chargers (2018 to 2020), 12 games for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, and 13 games in 2022 with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
Last season with the two NFC North Division foes, Badgley made 24 of 28 field goals and 33 of 33 converts. The majority of his time came with Detroit as he had 12 games with the Lions and only one game with the Bears.
The Titans are signing Badgley even though he was not very successful in the lone game he kicked for them in 2021. Badgley missed a 46 yard field goal and one of two convert attempts in a 38-13 Tennessee loss to the Arizona Cardinals to open the season. He was waived a day later.
In 60 NFL games, Badgley made 94 of 115 field goal attempts for a very respectable percentage of 81.7%. He has also made 155 of 160 converts. Badgley’s longest career NFL field goal was significant. It was for 59 yards on December 9, 2018 in a 26-21 Chargers win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Badgley set the Chargers record for the longest field goal in franchise history, and successfully kicked four field goals in the win. The previous Chargers record was set by Nate Kaeding of Iowa City, Iowa, who made a 57-yard field goal in a 41-24 San Diego win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 21, 2008.
Tennessee is one of three teams in the AFC South to have a new kicker. The Jacksonville Jaguars now have Brandon McManus of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Indianapolis Colts now have Matt Gay of Orem, Utah.
