UPDATE: The kickers have been identified by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Albert Breer.
#Eagles kicker tryouts today will include Caleb Sturgis, Nick Novak and Billy Cundiff. An ailing Cody Parkey makes this necessary.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2015
Also Kai Forbath, Shayne Graham and Carey Spear. https://t.co/BdWRo0QmR6
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 28, 2015
Sturgis, 26, has played 32 games for the Miami Dolphins the last two seasons and has a career field goal percentage of 77.5 percent.
Novak, 34, was 3-3 in field goal attempts (two from 50+ yards) during the preseason for the San Diego Chargers, but was cut before the start of the regular season. He has a career field goal percentage of 81.6 percent, but has recorded marks of 90 percent (2012), 91.9 percent (2013), and 84.6 percent (2014). His one issue, however, has been touchbacks. Novak ranked dead last in the NFL last season with just 10 touchbacks on 78 kickoff attempts.
Cundiff, 35, made just 75.9 percent of his field goals for the Cleveland Browns in 2014, and has a career mark of 76.2. While his accuracy has been an issue, his strong leg netted him touchbacksU on 61.3 percent of his kickoff attempts in 2014.
Forbath, 28, has a career field goal percentage of 87 percent and is coming off a mark of 88.9 percent in 2014. Unlike Cundiff, however, he is weak on kickoffs. In 2014, he recorded touchbacks on just 18 of his 54 attempts.
Graham, 37, hit the game-winning field goal in the Saints' playoff win against the Eagles in the 2014 playoffs. Ouch. He finished 19 for 22 (86.4 %) in field goal attempts in 2014, but hasn't been an option on kickoffs since 2012.
Spear, 23, competed with Alex Henery during the 2014 offseason, but was later cut. He returns for redemption, but the fact that he's already been cut by the Eagles and has zero NFL game experience doesn't bode well.
Of these options, one would figure Novak is the early favorite to replace Parkey based on his career accuracy and his veteran demeanor when tasked with nailing a key field goal. His lack of strength on kickoffs would be a concern, however.
According to FOX Sports.com's Alex Marvez, the Eagles are working out a group of kickers after Cody Parkey re-inured his groin during Sunday's game against the Jets.
Source tells @NFLonFOX that @Eagles bringing in kickers for workouts today with Cody Parkey aggravating preseason groin injury v @nyjets
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) September 28, 2015
Parkey dealt with a groin injury during the preseason, but claimed he was healthy enough to kick in the regular season. However, it's possible that he's been kicking while nursing the injury during the team's first three games. Last season, the kicker admitted that he kicked through a lingering groin injury during the team's games against the Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans.
The 23-year-old hasn't been sharp early on this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Parkey ranks dead last among NFL kickers with a -4.7 overall kicker rating. In regards to kickoffs, he ranks 31st of 33 kickers in average distance (61.6) and last in touchbacks (3) among kickers with 10 or more kickoff attempts.
Parkey's leg looked especially weak during Sunday's game against the Jets as he failed to record a touchback, although he did make a 30-yard field goal to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead.
