Brett Maher is the only kicker left in Broncos camp but that doesn't mean he's won the job

Updated Aug. 15, 2023 5:13 p.m. ET

Associated Press

Brett Maher hasn't necessarily won the job just because he's the last kicker standing at the Denver Broncos' training camp.

Coach Sean Payton noted there's more than a half-dozen kicking competitions playing out at training camps across the NFL this summer and those who don't make the cut could very well get a call from the Broncos.

"So, he's competing with those guys,” Payton said.

The Broncos designated kicker Elliott Fry as waived/injured Tuesday with an unspecified pulled muscle and signed rookie long snapper Jack Landherr IV to compete with incumbent Mitchell Fraboni.

That left Maher with all the kicks and he nailed several long ones but also missed a 45-yarder to the left and moments later watched a 53-yard attempt bang off the right upright.

Fry actually had a better preseason debut than Maher at Arizona last week. Fry missed a 50-yard attempt before converting from 55 yards and making an extra point in Denver's 18-17 loss to the Cardinals.

Maher, who was jettisoned by the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason following his extra point meltdown in the playoffs, missed twice. He was wide right on a 47-yarder and his 52-yard attempt was blocked. He converted his only extra point attempt.

Maher became the first kicker in NFL history to miss four extra points in a playoff game when he melted down in the Cowboys' 31-14 win over Tampa Bay in the wild-card round on Jan. 16. He finally made his fifth attempt but watched another PAT get blocked after the only touchdown Dallas scored in a 19-12 divisional round loss to San Francisco the following week.

Maher kicked for Payton in New Orleans in 2021, when starter Wil Lutz was injured. Maher converted 16 of 18 field goal attempts and 10 of 12 extra points for the Saints, a two-month performance he parlayed into the starting job in Dallas last year.

Maher had a solid season for the Cowboys, converting 29 of 32 field goals and 50 of 53 extra points before missing six of his seven PATs in the playoffs.

After signing with the Broncos this summer, Maher said he's tried to turn his playoff nightmare into a sort of fertilizer for growth.

“What I'm learning every single year in this league is there is something that's going to test you and test your response to how you handle your business, how you handle outside stuff,” Maher said. "And that was a tough lesson to learn, especially in the moment as I'm sure you guys all saw. But I've taken it as a way to learn and become more resilient and get a few more of those scars that can kind of help propel (me) forward.”

For his career, Maher has converted 96% of his PATs and 81% of his field goal attempts.

Payton created an unexpected kicker competition in Denver when he parted ways this summer with veteran Brandon McManus, the last holdover from the Broncos' Super Bowl 50-winning team. McManus signed with Jacksonville.

Notes: Payton confirmed RB Javonte Williams will play against the 49ers on Saturday. Williams blew out his right knee a month into the 2022 season, tearing his ACL, LCL and PLC (posterolateral corner), ending his season and leading many to wonder if he'd be available by the start of this season.

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