NFL: Detroit Lions cut kicker Alex Henery after woeful display against Buffalo

Detroit have released kicker Alex Henery after he missed three crucial field-goals during Sunday’s 17-14 defeat to Buffalo.

Henery was off target with attempts from 44 and 47 yards before missing another 50-yard effort in the final minute that would have forced the game into overtime.

The Lions were forced to turn to Henery in week four after rookie kicker Nate Freese made only three of his seven field-goal attempts over the opening three games of the season.

Freese was immediately cut from the Lions roster, and Henery has now suffered the same fate after converting only one of his five attempts in weeks four and five.

After Sunday’s crushing defeat to the Bills, Henery shouldered the blame and appeared resigned to being out of a job.

When asked if he had apologised to his team-mates, Henery said: “I think everyone knows that when you miss three kicks like that, two bad ones and one off the post, it’s pretty obvious.

“I blame myself. As a man I stand up – I’m the one kicking the ball. As the kicker, I have to make those kicks and I’m not looking to blame anyone else.”

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell confirmed on Monday that Henery had been released, but he did not comment on reports that former Denver kicker Matt Prater was the leading candidate to take over.

Prater was released by the Broncos on Friday despite missing only one of his 26 field-goal attempts last season, although he was hit with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.