Falcons face kicking dilemma as Younghoe Koo sits out against former team
The Atlanta Falcons are at a crossroads regarding their kicking situation as they prepare for an upcoming matchup. Younghoe Koo, the team’s regular kicker since 2019, will not be on the field for Sunday Night Football. Instead, he has been ruled out for the game due to a “not injury related” reason, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Parker Romo takes center stage
In Koo’s absence, Parker Romo will step in to handle the kicking duties. Formerly known as John Parker Romo, he has expressed a preference for the simpler version of his name. In an interview with the Star-Tribune in 2024, he explained that he finds “Parker” easier and more straightforward.
Romo’s experience includes a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings last season, where he demonstrated his capabilities by converting 11 of 12 field goal attempts. This performance suggests that he is more than capable of stepping up when called upon.
Koo’s recent struggles
Koo’s reliability has come into question following a challenging previous season, where he managed a mere 73.5% success rate on field goals—his lowest since entering the league. Prior to that, he had consistently exceeded an 86% success rate in every season. His performance this year has also been shaky; during the opening game, he missed a critical game-tying kick after the Buccaneers called a timeout just before his initial attempt, leading to a miss on the re-try.
With Koo’s recent struggles, speculation has begun to swirl around the possibility of the Falcons considering a cut, although that remains uncertain for now. For the time being, Romo’s selection appears to be a trial run, particularly fitting as he faces off against his former team this Sunday night.
Looking ahead
As the Falcons navigate this kicking conundrum, the outcome of Romo’s performance could play a significant role in determining Koo’s future with the team. The stakes are high as they prepare to take on the challenge ahead, with both players’ careers hanging in the balance.
