Former Georgia football star Rodrigo Blankenship waived by Buccaneers

‘Hot Rod’ has been waived by Tampa Bay…

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have waived former Georgia kicker Rodrigo ‘Hot Rod’ Blankenship, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Blankenship, who recently worked his way back from a lower body injury, was competing with Chase McLaughlin for Tampa Bay’s starting role.

Blankenship missed two field goals in the Buccaneers preseason win over the New York Jets in Week 2. McLaughlin made his one field goal attempt, a 48 yard kick, and an extra point.

The Marietta, Georgia, native began his NFL career in Indianapolis in 2020 and spent two seasons with the Colts before a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals last season.

Blankenship left Georgia as one of the most memorable kickers in UGA history. He earned All-SEC honors in 2019 and also took home the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top kicker.

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Tampa Bay signs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship after tryout

Former Georgia Bulldogs standout kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has found a new NFL home

Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made the most of his minicamp tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have signed Blankenship.

Blankenship elected to sign with Tampa Bay despite having multiple teams interested in him.

Blankenship is feeling healthy and is hoping to win Tampa Bay’s starting kicker role for the 2023 NFL season. He will compete with Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin.

The former Georgia star has connected on 83.9% of his career NFL field goal attempts. He has a career long field goal of 53 yards and has made 54 out of 58 career extra points.

Rodrigo Blankenship made four out of five field goals during the 2022 NFL season. He played for both the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last season. The Colts, who originally signed Blankenship as an undrafted free agent, cut Blankenship after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Rodrigo Blankenship made 80 of 97 career field goals during his time with Georgia from 2016-2019.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Rodrigo Blankenship’s signing via Twitter

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Baker Mayfield to former Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship: ‘I still don’t like you’

Baker Mayfield may never recover from that Rose Bowl loss to Georgia

Baker Mayfield, the former Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner, still carries lingering pain from the Sooners’ heartbreaking double overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 Rose Bowl.

The 54-48 loss not only propelled the Bulldogs to the national title game, but also marked the end of Mayfield’s illustrious college career.

During this week’s minicamp, Rodrigo Blankenship, the former Georgia kicker responsible for two crucial field goals in that fateful game, is trying out with Mayfield’s current team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When they met for the first time in Tampa, a camera captured Mayfield lightheartedly remarking to Blankenship, “I still don’t like you.”

Blankenship hit a clutch 55-yard field goal as the first half of the Rose Bowl ended, cutting Georgia’s deficit to 14. After Georgia came storming back, he hit again from 38 yards to force a second overtime, which ultimately led to Sony Michel’s game-winning 27-yard touchdown run. Blankenship also connected on all six extra-point attempts, accounting for 12 points.

K Rodrigo Blankenship to have tryout with Bucs at minicamp

The Bucs may still be looking to keep a second leg on the team after releasing K Jake Verity.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not be sticking with just one kicker after all.

The team recently released backup K Jake Verity, leaving only K Scott McLaughlin on the roster, but Tampa Bay may still want another leg on the roster. The NFL’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that the Bucs intend to host K Rodrigo Blankenship on a tryout when mandatory minicamp kicks off on Tuesday.

Blankenship played for the Indianapolis Colts for three years before signing with the Cardinals last year. In Arizona, he went 4-5 with a long of 50 yards after being elevated from their practice squad in Week 7, and he was waived under injury designation after his stint. He’s kicked at an 83.9% clip in his career with a long of 53 yards.

The Bucs are likely to go with McLaughlin, who replaced Blankenship in 2022 after he was waived by the Colts, but Tampa Bay could also be interested in keeping a second leg on the roster or the practice squad.

Rodrigo Blankenship having tryout with NFC South team

Former Georgia Bulldogs standout kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is trying out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Former Georgia Bulldogs standout kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is trying out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during minicamp. Blankenship reportedly has multiple teams interested in him.

Rodrigo Blankenship made four out of five field goals during the 2022 NFL season. He played for both the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts last season. The Colts cut Blankenship after he missed a potential game-winning field goal in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

Former Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship is hoping to sign with a new NFL team. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Blankenship is feeling healthy and is hoping to find a new NFL home. The former Georgia star has connected on 83.9% of his career NFL field goal attempts. He has a career long field goal of 53 yards and has made 54 out of 58 career extra points.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news of Blankenship’s tryout with Tampa Bay via social media:

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5 most underrated Colts players entering 2023

Don’t sleep on these underrated Colts players.

With the 2022 season ending with a 4-12-1 record, the Indianapolis Colts need a significant shift in the cultural makeup of the team.

This will require several of the team’s veterans to make an impact early and often, including players who may have flown a bit under the radar during a tumultuous 2022 season.

If the team wishes to remain competitive, they will need all the help they can get.

Here are the five most underrated Colts entering 2023:

What went right, what went wrong for the Colts in 2022

Taking a look at what went right and what went wrong for the 2022 Colts.

As the offseason continues to unfold, more reflection about the Indianapolis Colts’ previous season naturally rises to the surface before we begin to look ahead into 2023.

Here’s what went right and what went wrong for the Colts in 2022:

‘UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton’: The Celebration II with Georgia great Rodrigo Blankenship

Hot Rod joins the show to celebrate the Dawgs!

Host J.C. Shelton is joined by Georgia kicking great Rodrigo “Hot Rod” Blankenship to celebrate the Dawgs’ back-to-back championships. 

Your friends at UGA Football Live and UGA Wire present your one-stop-shop podcast for all things Georgia football: “UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton.”

Streaming on Youtube as a part of The Pulse Sports Network or, listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Stats, analysis and interviews with some Georgia greats. We are here every week throughout the offseason to keep you up to speed on Georgia football.

Listen here, on Spotify:

Listen here, on Apple Podcasts

Also on the show:

  • Recruiting update: Georgia lands two top 2025 prospects
  • Roster tracker: Who’s staying and who’s leaving

Make sure to subscribe, rate and review! And check out one of our latest interviews with former Georgia great Aaron Murray! Watch here, or listen wherever you get your podcasts:

Cardinals sign K Rodrigo Blankenship, LB Blake Lynch to practice squad

Blankenship could kick on Thursday for the Cardinals if Matt Prater isn’t ready to return.

The Arizona Cardinals released kicker Matt Ammendola on Monday after two disappointing games. It appeared that Matt Prater might be able to go and return to the lineup Thursday night when the Cardinals take on the New Orleans Saints.

They have a backup plan.

They announced a couple of additions to the practice squad Tuesday.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship signs with new NFL team

Former UGA football star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.

Former Georgia Bulldogs star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has signed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. Arizona’s starting kicker, Matt Prater, has a hip injury and may not be able to play on Thursday against the New Orleans Saints.

The Cardinals waived kicker Matt Amendola, who missed an extra point in Arizona’s loss to Seattle on Sunday. There’s a good chance the Cardinals will utilize Blankenship on Thursday against the Saints.

Earlier this year, the Indianapolis Colts waived Blankenship after he missed a 42-yard game-winning field goal attempt for the Colts during overtime in Week 1.

Blankenship won Indianapolis’ kicker competition last season. The former Georgia standout has converted on 45 of 54 kicks during his NFL career.  Blankenship has made 52 out of 55 extra points.

Blankenship, who missed much of last season with a hip injury, has made one field goal over 50 yards in his NFL career.

Former Georgia Bulldogs walk-on kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was a fan favorite during his time in Athens. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Blankenship hopes to impress the coaches in Arizona to get another NFL opportunity.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Blankenship’s signing:

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