# Saints release veteran kicker Daniel Carlson after he posted 2nd-worst FG% in NFL

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-04 17:20 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The New Orleans Saints have terminated veteran kicker Daniel Carlson following a period of poor performance and inefficiency.

## Intelligence Brief
According to an official announcement from NewOrleansSaints.com, the organization terminated Carlson's contract as part of a series of roster changes. This specific move comes amid a period of struggle for the team's special teams unit. Concurrent with the release of the kicker, the Saints also awarded running back Audric Estimé from waivers, adding him to the team's active personnel mix to address specific offensive needs. Coverage from ESPN emphasizes the statistical reasoning behind the decision, reporting that Carlson had posted the second-worst field goal percentage in the entire NFL.


Other regional outlets, including AL.com and NOLA.com, have highlighted Carlson's background as a former Auburn kicker while reporting on the move. Canal Street Chronicles characterized the release of the veteran kicker and the acquisition of the running back as a set of important roster moves made by the organization on Tuesday to reshape the team's current composition. Context provided by NOLA.com indicates that these roster changes are occurring while the Saints' rushing offense is struggling. The decision to bring Audric Estimé back into the mix suggests a desire to bolster the ground game alongside the necessity of replacing Carlson.


The timing of these moves suggests a broader effort by the New Orleans front office to address multiple areas of deficiency on the field, ranging from the inefficiency of the kicking game to the lack of production from the rushing attack. Looking forward, the Saints must now find a replacement for the kicker position following the termination of Daniel Carlson. The team will likely focus on integrating Audric Estimé into the offense to mitigate the current rushing struggles mentioned in local reports. Based on the reports from NewOrleansSaints.com and ESPN, the organization's immediate priority remains stabilizing its roster through these waiver claims and releases to improve their overall performance for the remainder of the season.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| AL.com | Former Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson released by the New Orleans Saints | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxNWlZsRGp5NGtiVDJYSU9BeDhHYUtRTVFQYl82a01UTXNLNGxvQ2ZPY29lSDJWNk1ja2dmY285TVdOZHZJTzhyeXVQQlB0Ul9odXozZ3Z3bnlHd0drdGhvSUlJdDA2MkFZSDFpcVd2eGpBbmtXd2kxelhxS2VXN3ZTaW92cjFuNUQtUFFv?oc=5) |
| Canal Street Chronicles | Saints make a set of important roster moves on Tuesday | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxQNUJXbEloeE1tWXQxMzR6Z2Y4RlcyaE5JQXdBaW5UZERIckNTeUhyaklFdlF4aTB1WjJuWXJ5enZpNjZVcWI0QW54bE1XQXVFWGpOUFNvYnhSNVE4QzZ2dlJtOEJEYS1lRkRhWUl0UWh5RFc5THFnZFdkakhtQVFKRk94MzNuaUlUN1lzdXZiQ1RvMG5pQlNpLWpHeUsyUFd2TXhRblRpZzlqR3NSalJyZGJWZUtxNzlFLU51djJFTjdPa3hhc3dIQmtlbmx4YVBKcGE2RGNrejJIUQ?oc=5) |
| NOLA.com | With rushing offense struggling, the Saints are bringing a familiar RB back into the mix | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggJBVV95cUxOT3RPVV9CQUpxT2xRSkhucDhVRVY0VVYxRmh5RFBmWFdPMTdrTGgxMTRpTVByb2xtck1Na1dkajJDVkhxcV9ZNFd6X1IxVEVpNUQwUFNaWG9EU3JYUFEtMFRhR0NERFpiYXY1OEtIbmRrN1doVE4yR0pDT2N6a3VoYUhLdTNjWWxSaW13OFdwVzBibjBvUXI1Wmtqb3UzRUZxa1ZoLVJ4SUtpX053Z0MtWVJPN0FhRklvTDk2MmdOcnZaTFBwc0hhZnhkZ3RWdmliRjZUMWthdUxPTDU1MFZpTnZyMGM4VG8xMElza3M4YjBBM09KY25jVkxZREw1azZ5Z3c?oc=5) |
| New Orleans Saints | NewOrleansSaints.com | Saints awarded running back Audric Estimé from waivers, terminate K Daniel Carlson | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxNN1R2WmxKcVRSemNza1B3N2kzMUdYQzJVTGEtaVZjcHJZX3RGVGJpczY4V0NKYTJZamp1MEVjY093NDJTUldDbktkd25VTTdBMGtBUkRxQVlvZFRYRzYzNkFZZTFtU0pzOWQzUjdyZXdoTzZnSkFTNkVXTlc1WGVlZkl2Sk92eU95SnNmVjRjc29aNzlXYzNGV2FWcTZPSnhjbU1WTWgzSlJnOXF0aTlvenRabTY3TkFIdHhyQWxXUXBnQmF3Znc?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Saints release veteran kicker Daniel Carlson after he posted 2nd-worst FG% in NFL | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxNTGIzTjVRSW1PNTNteTRkMGtaclpIRVpSS2VhMUZSUjZNNmNRT1JGdWpBdmRVZXB3NVRRUmZpN1lIeHFmOUF5SVpPajhTcHhqOENDTGVreXRfbjdJOFBSUzFIbUlXSHhMQ1F2N09fd284UUN6MnZ3dGJQbFJwME9LUFN2RnZhMUlkaGd0c0lxYlczOU90ZHZoYVJuUXVLdw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-11-04/saints-release-veteran-kicker-daniel-carlson-after-he-posted-2nd-worst-fg-in-nfl*