New Bengals Kicker Cade York looks to remain undefeated with Burrow And Chase

New Bengals kicker Cade York couldn’t have written it better in an attempt to revive his career in place of the injured Evan McPherson.

Except if it was against the Browns, but that’s coming in two weeks.

York returns to his hometown for his first game in pinstripes when the Bengals play at Dallas on Monday night (8:15-Cincinnati’s Channel 9, ESPN) as he tries to extend his undefeated streak with quarterback Joe Burrow and Ja’ Marr Chase to 16.

“Maybe I’ll get someone to pack a bag that I can bring back so I have some more clothes,” York said before Friday’s practice.

York, a freshman when Burrow and Chase led LSU to the national title, won Tuesday’s practice at Paycor Stadium led by special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. In his fifth tryout since Washington cut him after he missed two kicks in the opener, York showed the same legs that impressed Simmons when he ran the kicking portion of the NFL’s 2022 scouting combine.

“Power. He’s got great leg strength. The ball pops off his foot,” Simmons said. “He’s got to be a more consistent ball striker. Just get him to get it going in the right direction. He’s got an opportunity here to get his career back on track.”

York, 23, had the best moment of his career in his first game after Cleveland selected him in the fourth round in 2022. He hit all four field-goal attempts, including a 58-yarder with eight seconds left to beat the Panthers. He went 20 of 28 the rest of the season before the Browns cut him the week before the 2023 opener, and he did not appear in the league again until the 2024 opener.

“I had some really great moments and the next preseason I did well in practice and training camp,” York said. “I missed some kicks from a hair in the preseason and they cut me. It was sad, but it’s a business.”

York entered the AFC East tour this year after missing from 47 and 56 yards in the opener with the Commanders and tryouts with the Bills, Patriots and two with the Jets before hooking up here for the final five games.

“It was frustrating. I kicked most of them really well,” York said of the tests. “It was confusing at times, but I would never say disheartening.”

Having never lost a match with Burrow and Chase, York says he’s “looking to keep it going,” He also says it’s nice to be in one place after never being able to pack his bag completely out. He only had time to grab deodorant, toothpaste and a pair of clothes when he got the call from the Bengals late Monday morning.

“The essentials,” said York.

He hopes Simmons can provide some other fundamentals.

“He’s been here a long time, seen a lot of guys. I might pick something up while I’m here,” York said. “Go kick some balls.”

Simmons has been here before.

Try 2012, when the Bengals had to go 7-1 to make the playoffs. In the middle of that run, they lost kicker Mike Nugent with four games left.

They turned to a ten-year vet in Josh Brown, and he went 13-of-14, including two of two in the Wild Card Game in Houston. His 43-yarder with four seconds left in Pittsburgh gave the Bengals a 13–10 victory that put them in the playoffs.

Then, as now, the Bengals are ready when their kicker returns from injury. When Nugent came back in 2013, Brown hooked on the Giants. The one thing York knows is that he won’t be back next year.

“Very similar situation, except Josh was a veteran,” Simmons said. “But it’s still a great opportunity to get on the right track.”