KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Morten Andersen, the second-leading scorer in NFL history, was told Friday he has lost his job to a kicker 18 years younger.
"A tough decision. A risky decision," Kansas City Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said.
The 44-year-old Andersen has scored 2,259 points since breaking into the NFL with New Orleans in 1982. Only Gary Anderson has scored more.
"Morten Andersen I think will kick in the league," Vermeil said. "If he's not kicking in the league and our decision ends up not being a good decision, we'll bring him back."
Vermeil said the Chiefs would contact other teams to help Andersen get another opportunity.
Kicking for the Chiefs will be 26-year-old Lawrence Tynes, who is coming off two successful seasons with the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League. Tynes failed to unseat Andersen two years ago in the Chiefs' camp.
Andersen made his only field goal attempt in the preseason, a 28-yarder, but his range was clearly not as great as Tynes'.
Vermeil also said Friday that rookie tight end Kris Wilson, who figured prominently in this year's plans, would be out at least half the season with a broken left fibula.
Wilson, a second-round draft pick from Pittsburgh, was injured in Thursday night's game at Dallas. He had been impressive in training camp and now joins Marc Boerigter on the team's list of injured receivers.
Boerigter went on injured reserve this week with a knee injury.
Vermeil also said Steve Cheek, who was acquired earlier in the week from Houston, would replace Jason Baker as punter. Cheek kicked well in the Dallas game, his only appearance for the Chiefs in the preseason.
Baker, who punted for the Chiefs last year, had been inconsistent and clearly lost Vermeil's confidence.
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