NFL Player News

The Buccaneers announced a series of moves on Wednesday, the most significant of which being the placement of kicker Connor Barth on the reserve/NFI list. Barth hurt his Achilles in a charity basketball game and will be replaced by Lawrence Tynes on the roster. 

Also the Buccaneers signed guard Jeremy Lewis, put running back Jeff Demps on the reserve/Did Not Report list, listed punter Michael Koenen on the active/NFI list and posted tight end Luke Stocker and defensive end Markus White on the active/PUP list. Of those players, only Stocker and Koenen figure to be key contributors this season. 

Dolphins rookie Caleb Sturgis missed two more field goals Wednesday and has fallen behind veteran Dan Carpenter, reports ESPN.com. A fifth-round pick out of Florida, Sturgis must improve dramatically to unseat Carpenter, who hit 22 of 27 field goals last year.

Sturgis’ big advantage is that he’s much cheaper than Carpenter; Miami would save more than $2 million by replacing Carpenter with Sturgis.

Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth, who ruptured his right Achilles in a charity basketball game and will miss the entire season after having surgery Monday, said he "hopes" to begin kicking in six months and was "feeling good" after the surgery.

The Bucs called the surgery successful and placed Barth on the Non-Football Injury list. The move allows the team to rework Barth's four-year, $13.2 million contract in a way that would reduce Barth's salary while he's on the reserved list.

Lawrence Tynes was signed as a replacement.

The Buccaneers announced Wednesday that kicker Connor Barth suffered a torn Achilles tendon on July 12 in his hometown of Wilmington, N.C. Barth will be placed on the Non-Football Injury list and miss the 2013 season after undergoing successful surgery Monday.

The team also announced that it has signed nine-year veteran kicker Lawrence Tynes to a one-year deal.

"We are disappointed to lose a productive player like Connor, but are very fortunate to be able to sign an experienced kicker at this time of year," general manager Mark Dominik said. "Lawrence and his agent, Ken Harris, had other standing opportunities, but we are pleased that they thought this was the right place for Lawrence to continue his career."

The Browns might wind up carrying two kickers this season: veteran Shayne Graham for field goals and rookie Brandon Bogotay for kickoffs. Bogotay was a kickoff specialist in college, attempting only three field goals. Graham has been kicking field goals for NFL teams since 2001. 

Coach Rob Chudzinski alluded to a kicking competition between the two, something that might last into the preseason, according to ESPN.

The Dolphins are having a fierce battle for their kicking job this offseason between veteran Dan Carpenter and rookie Caleb Sturgis, a former University of Florida standout.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that coach Joe Philbin said the coaches are tracking every kick and kickoff and the most consistent player will get the job. The report says so far Sturgis has a leg up on Carpenter.

Nate Kaeding has chosen to retire rather than play in 2013, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Kaeding hurt his groin several days ago according to the report. That means Connor Barth will soon be the only active kicker on the Bucs roster.

The Bills drafted kicker Dustin Hopkins in the sixth round of the NFL Draft out of Florida State. Hopkins will compete with veteran Rian Lindell for the starting job.

The Dolphins drafted Caleb Sturgis in the fifth round of the NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. Sturgis will compete with Dan Carpenter for the kicking job in Miami, and Sturgis might be the favorite based on Carpenter’s struggles in recent years. Keep an eye on what develops of this battle in training camp, and if Sturgis is kicking for the Dolphins he would be considered a No. 2 Fantasy option in all leagues.

The Browns signed free-agent kicker Shayne Graham on Monday, the team announced. Graham is expected to replace Phil Dawson, who signed with the 49ers back in March.