Nov 7, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints punter Blake Gillikin (4) before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome. Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints punter Blake Gillikin had to take 'random' drug test after 81-yard punt

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 8/22/22

Blake Gillikin's 81-yard punt in Saturday's NFL preseason game was easily a sports highlight for the weekend.

Apparently, the NFL wasn't so impressed. Instead, they hit Gillikin with a "random" drug test.

81-yard PUNT

: @blakegillikin

: @FOX8NOLA
: @WWLAMFM pic.twitter.com/kLm8PGYqvU
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 20, 2022

According to CBS Sports, Gillikin received a text at 7:16 a.m. on Sunday morning telling him he had been randomly selected to be tested and that he only had a couple of hours to get to a testing site.

Punt at your own risk https://t.co/Hb0rD4oqNs pic.twitter.com/VKwKIcdOPm
— Blake Gillikin (@blakegillikin) August 21, 2022

Gillikin's massive punt is the second this preseason to eclipse the 80-yard mark. There hasn't been an 80-yard punt in the NFL regular season since 2015.

The second-year punter kicked the ball five times with an average of 59.4 yards per kick in Saturday's loss. He ended his first NFL season ranked sixth in league with 47.7 average yards per punt.

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