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Report: Steelers to work out Ks Forbath, McCrane

By The Sports Xchange
Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Kai Forbath boots a 42-yard field goal during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Former Minnesota Vikings kicker Kai Forbath boots a 42-yard field goal during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Kickers Kai Forbath and Matt McCrane will work out with the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday.

The expected workouts come on the heels of coach Mike Tomlin telling reporters on Tuesday that the Steelers (7-5-1) are "willing to explore options" after kicker Chris Boswell misfired on two field-goal attempts in Sunday's 24-21 setback to the Oakland Raiders.

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Boswell is 10 of 16 on field-goal tries this season and has missed five extra points for Pittsburgh, which will bid to snap a three-game skid on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET) against the New England Patriots (9-4).

Forbath was released by the Minnesota Vikings in August in favor of Daniel Carlson, although the rookie was cut a few weeks later after missing three field-goal attempts -- including two in overtime -- in a 29-29 tie with the Green Bay Packers.

The 31-year-old Forbath made 32 of 38 field-goal attempts and 34 of 39 extra-point tries last season. He went 116-for-136 on his field-goal attempts with the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and Vikings.

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McCrane has kicked for both the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders this season, making 5 of 9 field-goal attempts and all eight extra-point tries.

"We acknowledge that Chris has struggled. He has struggled to find consistent footing," Tomlin said. "We are willing to explore options that give us the best chances of the ball going through the uprights this week. That being said, those options include Chris."

Boswell earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2017 by converting 35 of 38 field-goal attempts, including all four chances from beyond 50 yards.

The 35 field goals established a franchise record and marked the first time a Steelers kicker converted at least 30 attempts since Shaun Suisham in 2013. Not only was Boswell's 92.1 percent success rate a career high, but the 27-year-old also was 37 of 39 on extra points to finish with 142 points -- also a Pittsburgh single-season record.

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