have 'open competition' at kicker

[JAFF]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...ot/7454147002/

The Indianapolis Colts' place-kicker job is up for grabs.

Coach Frank Reich made it clear Wednesday that while incumbent Rodrigo Blankenship has the inside track on retaining his role in 2021, recent free agent acquisition Eddy Pineiro will have a chance to win the job in training camp and during the preseason.

"It's open competition," Reich said. "But Hot Rod is the incumbent. Hot Rod had a good season for us last year, so that's obviously taken into consideration. He'll have to earn it again this year. ... It is open competition."

Blankenship, a 24-year-old undrafted free agent out of Georgia, won the job last season in a battle with incumbent Chase McLaughlin that Colts leadership described as an incredibly close competition. In fact, Reich went as far as to call the decision to go with Blankenship rather than McLaughlin "the toughest one" the Colts had to make on cut-down day.

Reich hinted Wednesday that given Blankenship's track record with the team, he will enter the "open competition" with more of an edge than McLaughin carried as the incumbent last season.

Blankenship enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, making 32-of-37 kicks (86.5%) and 43-of-45 extra points (95.6%), giving the Colts some needed stability at the position after a rocky final season from future hall-of-famer Adam Vinatieri.

Blankenship's 32 made field goals ranked fourth in the NFL, though his mark of 86.5% ranked 16th among kickers with at least 15 attempts.

While Blankenship was largely dependable on short-to-mid-range kicks during the season, his 33-yard miss late in the third quarter against Buffalo in the playoffs loomed large in a game the Colts lost 27-24.