Cincinnati Bengals kicker Mike Nugent didn't mince words when asked about his performance in Thursday's preseason game against the Lions.
Nugent missed a PAT attempt and a 45-yard field goal in the Bengals' 30-14 win, but also made a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.
"I kicked pathetically tonight," he said. "Just terrible."
Nugent also missed a 48-yard field goal in the preseason opener against the Vikings. But he and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said they weren't concerned.
It was just one of those nights, Nugent said.
"I hit the ball well in warm-ups, I hit the ball horrible in the game," he said.
Nugent, who also handles kickoffs, is hardly in danger of losing his job. The 34-year-old veteran, who has been with the Bengals since 2010, is one of three kickers with the team this summer, but is also the only one actively getting reps.
Jonathan Brown was waived/injured and placed on IR in May. Zach Hocker is on the active roster, but is also hurt and has not kicked in a preseason game. His work on Thursday was limited to pregame warm-ups.
That means Nugent is getting more work than he normally would at this time of the year. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Though he doesn't get to rest his legs as much, if he's going to have bad nights, he'd rather have them before September, he said.
"If you're going to miss field goals, you want it to be in the preseason," he said, before adding, "I'm in no way, shape or form happy with (my performance)."
Nugent made 23-of-28 field goals last season and 48-of-49 PAT attempts.
