Falcons' kicking competition heats up with monster field goal by German-born Lenny Krieg vs. Younghoe Koo

It's still a bit wild that the Atlanta Falcons are considering replacing Younghoe Koo.

But the kicking competition is certainly on now.

The Falcons' other option is Lenny Krieg, a German kicker.

And on his first preseason field goal attempt, Krieg drilled a 57-yard field goal.

"Lenny Krieg, the German kicker Atlanta signed through the International Pathway Program, hits a 57-yarder with plenty of room to spare to start the scoring and make his first NFL kick," wrote The Athletic's Josh Kendall on X.

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There's reason for the Falcons to at least consider this move.

"After several seasons as one of the most consistent kickers in the league, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, Younghoe Koo missed nine field goals last season and ended the campaign on injured reserve due to a hip injury," ESPN's Marc Raimondi writes. "The Falcons signed German-born kicker Lenny Krieg this offseason to compete with Koo for the starting role. Krieg, who turns 23 in August, impressed at the combine as a part of the league's International Player Pathway Program. He was the only kicker to make all 14 field-goal attempts without a miss."

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There is video footage of Krieg making a 73-yard field goal in a practice.

Koo is due to make $4.25 million this season, the fourth-highest for a kicker in the league. That could be another reason he's a cut candidate.

Krieg is ready for the battle.

"There’s 32 jobs in the league, and my job is to just perform to my level and improve every day," Krieg told Fox Sports before the preseason. "And whatever happens, happens. I try to control what I can control, and whatever is out of my control is just something that’s going to happen." 

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