Cade York Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

Browns kicker having terrible preseason, deletes social media post after missed kicks

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 8/18/23

You never really appreciate how important a good kicker is until your team has a kicker it can't trust.

The Cleveland Browns might be in that situation right now with Cade York after what has been a dreadful start to the team's preseason.

After missing multiple kicks over the Browns' first two preseason games, he shanked two potential game-winning kicks in the closing minutes of Thursday's 18-18 tie with the Philadelphia Eagles. Those missed kicks came after he had successfully made three kicks in the first half, prompting a now-deleted social media post to his Instagram account at halftime of the game.

Whether it was York himself making the post, or somebody with access to his account, it is not typically a good look to see a player's social media account making posts during a game. Especially when that post was followed by his fourth quarter performance.

It looks like Cade York was on Instagram during halftime… #Browns pic.twitter.com/aMGv49smyx
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) August 18, 2023

With less than two minutes to play York lined up for a potential 47-yard field goal that could have put the Browns ahead. He pushed it wide. But he was given a mulligan on the kick when the Eagles were called for an illegal formation penalty for lining up over the center. York then hooked the 42-yard kick.

"Well, I know what they're going to be talking about on Cleveland sports talk radio tomorrow. I mean, back-to-back chances to take the lead, and (Cade) York missed it twice."- Ross Tucker pic.twitter.com/zfxXdfEkJo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 18, 2023

After that miss he is just 3-for-6 this preseason.

Leg strength has never been York's issue as he has one of the strongest legs in the entire NFL. He is just alarmingly inconsistent with accuracy after missing eight field goals and two extra points as a rookie a year ago.

The Browns did not bring in any veteran competition for York this preseason so right now it is all resting on his shoulders. But if he keeps missing kicks the Browns might not have any other option but to look elsewhere. Robbie Gould remains the most prominent veteran kicker still unsigned, and if York misses any more kicks in the Browns preseason finale he might want to stay close to his phone.

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