The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Monday. Blankenship lost the kicking battle to Chase McLaughlin in training camp this summer and will now look to latch on with another team before the start of the 2023 regular season. The 26-year-old spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, going 4-for-5 on his field-goal tries and 4-for-5 on extra points in just three total games. As long as Tampa doesn't bring in more competition for McLaughlin to close out the preseason, he should enter Week 1 as the team's starting kicker. McLaughlin, 27, made 83.3 percent of his 36 field-goal attempts and made all 21 of his extra-point tries in 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. The kicking position in Tampa won't be as exciting in fantasy now that Tom Brady isn't running the offense in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free-agent kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to a source. Blankenship had been in Tampa this week on a minicamp tryout, and apparently he impressed the team enough to land a deal for the 2023 season after having surgery in January to fix a torn muscle in his leg. The 26-year-old is healthy now for the first time in over a year and will compete with Chase McLaughlin for the starting job in training camp this summer. Blankenship made four of his five field-goal tries and four of his five extra points in three games with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals last year. Neither Blankenship nor McLaughlin will be very attractive in fantasy in 2023 now that Tom Brady isn't running the Bucs' offense.
Free-agent kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (leg) is trying out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at mandatory minicamp this week, according to a source. Blankenship is finally healthy for the first time in over a year after having surgery to fix a torn muscle in his leg in January. The Buccaneers are one of several teams that are interested in him now that he's healthy. As of right now, Chase McLaughlin is the only kicker on Tampa's roster, but the Bucs figure to bring in competition for him before training camp begins at the end of July. Blankenship, 26, kicked in only three games with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last year and made four of his five field-goal attempts and extra-point tries.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made both of his field goal attempts and two-of-three extra point attempts in the team's Thursday night win over the Saints. The former Colt was solid in his Cardinals debut, making a 50-yard field goal on his first attempt with his new team. Matt Prater (hip) figures to be close to returning, so Blankenship may be a one-and-done with the Cardinals.
Rodrigo Blankenship To Kick Thursday, Matt Prater Ruled Out
Arizona Cardinals kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was elevated to the active roster on Thursday. He'll serve as the active kicker for the Thursday Night matchup with the New Orleans Saints. Matt Prater (hip) is unable to play in Week 7, but will hopefully return soon. Blankenship hasn't been too consistent during his short NFL career. He won't be an ideal streaming option for the upcoming matchup against the tough Saints defense.
The Arizona Cardinals signed former Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to their practice squad on Tuesday. Blankenship made it just one week with the Colts this year before being cut after he had two kickoffs go out of bounds while also missing a field goal in the Week 1 tie with the Houston Texans. Meanwhile in Arizona, they need another kicker after cutting Matt Ammendola on Monday. Regular kicker Matt Prater (hip) has missed the last two games and doesn't appear to be ready to go in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. If Prater isn't cleared for this week, it looks like Blankenship will kick for the Cardinals on Thursday. Fantasy managers should be looking to avoid this situation.
The Indianapolis Colts have waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after he missed a game-winning field goal in the team's season-opening tie with the Houston Texans. The 25-year-old made 2-of-3 field goals and both of his extra-point attempts in Week 1, with his longest kick being 45 yards. Since his rookie season in 2020, Blankenship has made 45-of-54 field goal attempts and 52-of-55 extra point attempts, with his highest field goal percentage being 86.5% in a single season. The former Georgia Bulldog can be left off fantasy rosters unless he finds a starting job with a new team.
The Athletic's Zak Keefer gets the sense that the Indianapolis Colts kicking job is Rodrigo Blankenship's to lose in training camp. Jake Verity missed an extra point in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, which is close to a death knell in a kicking competition. Blankenship went 5-for-5 and hit a 55-yarder in Wednesday's practice, while Verity went 4-for-5 and badly missed his 55-yard attempt. Barring a collapse, Blankenship will be the team's Week 1 kicker. The 25-year-old played in only five games in 2021 due to a hip injury. With Indianapolis' offense looking to have a higher ceiling with quarterback Matt Ryan under center, Blankenship is worth a look as a low-end kicking option in fantasy leagues.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (hip) would remain on the injured reserve as he builds strength in his injured hip. He was placed on injured reserve in mid-October with a right hip injury. According to Reich, the Colts will stick with Michael Badgley as their kicker while Blankenship is sidelined. Badgley is 7-for-8 in field-goal attempts while converting 20-of-21 extra-point tries over six games with the Colts/Titans. The 26-year-old is a perfect 7-of-7 in field-goal tries since joining the Colts. For now, Badgley will remain the Colts' primary kicker and is low-end K1 against a Buffalo Bills defense that ranks ninth in points allowed to the position in 2021.
The Indianapolis Colts placed kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (groin) on Injured Reserve on Saturday and elevated kicker Michael Badgley and safety Jordan Lucas from the practice squad to the active roster in corresponding moves. Blankenship had already been ruled out for Week 6 against the Houston Texans, but he'll now be forced to miss at least an additional two games now. The 24-year-old had been a weekly streaming option at the kicker position by making 11 of his 14 field-goal tries (5-for-7 from 40-plus yards) and seven of his eight extra points. Badgley was cut by the Tennessee Titans after he missed his only field goal and one of his two extra points in the season opener. He should be avoided for fantasy purposes while Blankenship is out.
