Patriots Reportedly Expected to Sign Kicker Kai Forbath After Nick Folk's Appendectomy

The kicking carousel in New England continued on Thursday when Nick Folk went down due to an appendectomy. Folk won't be available in Week 13, and thus the Patriots had to pick up another option.

According to Field Yates, the Patriots are expected to sign Kai Forbath as Folk's replacement.

The Patriots are expected to sign veteran K Kai Forbath to replace Nick Folk, per sources. Forbath kicked in three games for Jacksonville last season and was the Vikings’ full-time kicker in 2017.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 28, 2019

Forbath was most recently employed by the Jaguars in 2018, appearing in three games. Prior to that he was the Vikings' starting kicker for a bit more than one season.

The 32-year-old is certainly one of the more experienced legs available, as he's featured in 77 games across his seven-year career. He's made 85.7% of his career field goal attempts.

BREAKING: More kicking issues for #Patriots as league source confirms Nick Folk had appendectomy early Thursday and will almost certainly be OUT for Sunday in Houston. Already been through Gostkowski and Nugent this season.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 28, 2019

Stephen Gostkowski featured in four games this year before he was placed on IR after undergoing hip surgery. His replacement, Mike Nugent, went 5-for-8 on field goal attempts, and was eventually ousted for Folk in Week 9.

Now, with Folk unable to take the field, the Patriots are believed to be calling upon Forbath's services.

In 2018, Forbath went 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, featuing as the Jags kicker for the final three weeks of the season.