The Indianapolis Colts have decided to waive kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after just one game into the 2022 NFL season. The 25-year-old missed a crucial field goal that could have won the game for the Colts in overtime. Instead, the Colts vs Texans game ended in a tie (20-20).
It now seems like Blankenship’s miss, which went so far wide despite a good snap and hold from his teammates, had also cost him his job. In addition to the field-goal blunder, two of Blankenship’s kickoffs went out of bounds too.
The Colts Have Already Signed Two Replacements for Blankenship
As soon as it was announced that the Colts have decided to part ways with their kicker, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Indianapolis-based franchise was signing Lucas Havrisik and Chase McLaughlin to their practice squad.
The two kickers will now compete for that vacant kicker berth. Whoever wins that fight will get to kick the ball for the Colts in their second game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kicked the Longest Field Goal in Rose Bowl History
Blankenship joined the Colts in 2020 and played 16 games for them that season. In 2021, the player suffered a hip injury and could only play five games. Last season, when the 25-year-old returned from injury, the Colts didn’t field him and went for Mike Badgley instead.
Before he joined the Colts, Rodrigo Blankenship played college football at Georgia and had his name written in the history books when he kicked the longest field goal in Rose Bowl history – 55 yards.
Famous for wearing thick black glasses, Blankenship will now look for a new team to sign him. However, after missing that game-deciding 42-yard field goal, you can’t blame interested NFL teams if they are having second thoughts about acquiring the kicker.
