The Colts released punter Rodrigo Blankenship on Tuesday, two days after his persistent issues reached a breaking point when he missed a potential game-winning field goal attempt of 42 yards in the season opener.
Kickers Chase McLaughlin and Lucas Havrisik were signed by the Colts to their practise squad rather than being immediately filled on the active roster.
Before their Week 2 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Colts will probably add one of the new kickers to the active roster.
The Colts signed cornerback Tony Brown from their practise squad to take Blankenship’s place on the 53-man roster.
Blankenship, a former Georgia star athlete, had a difficult day in Week 1. Late in the game, he missed two consecutive kickoffs, each of which put the Houston Texans in control at the 40-yard line. The 42-yard failure in overtime, when he unexpectedly missed to the right with the kick, only made matters worse for him. The Colts were forced to accept a 20-20 stalemate.
Indianapolis Colts Cut Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship After Week1 Struggles:
In his two plus seasons, Rodrigo Blankenship made 45 of 54 field goal attempts (83.3%) and 52 of 55 extra point attempts (94.5%). In his time with Indianapolis, Blankenship only succeeded on one out of four tries from 50 yards or further.
After he suffered a hip injury in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, which was not seen as a season-ending problem, the Colts showed a lack of confidence in him that year. But the Colts decided to let his replacement, Michael Badgley, finish the season rather than bringing him back into the lineup after his rehabilitation. Last year, Blankenship made just one more effort.
Frank Reich, the Colts’ head coach, was questioned on Blankenship’s lack of confidence on Monday.
