San Diego Chargers release kicker Nate Kaeding – NFL News
San Diego Chargers released kicker Nate Kaeding from the injured reserve after he passed a physical test on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.
Kaeding got a groin injury during practice session on September 28. Chargers wasted no time and immediately got the replacement by signing kicker Nick Novak on the same day.
The kicker was then placed on injured reserve on Monday, October 22. Since then, Chargers had retained the stance that they would release him when he passed the physical.
Kaeding has reiterated that he is fit enough to return to the field right now. According to The Associated Press, Kaeding said:
"I took the bye week as an extra week to get extra work on rehabbing my leg and the rest of my body. I came in fully expecting to play the Cleveland game, to kick Monday, Wednesday and Friday in practice and then jump on a plane and play. Obviously, the
team had other plans."
Kaeding, a nine-year veteran, holds the record for being the most precise kicker in the history of the National Football league (NFL).
In his nine seasons with Chargers, Kaeding has scored on 180 out of 207 attempts during the regular season games, getting an 87% completion rate.
However, it is the performance in playoffs which has let his team down. In his eight playoff games, Kaeding has managed to score on just eight out of 15 field goal attempts. Talking about his prospects, Kaeding said:
"I'm certainly proud of the track record I have. There are no accidents in this league and it's a good measure of success. I'm confident and hopeful that I'll get another chance here down the road. You get drafted, but you're not going to last somewhere
forever.”
Kaeding has been training with former New Orleans Saints and Chargers kicker John Carney and says he is keeping himself fit enough to play in the league again.
Chargers drafted Kaeding in the third round (65th overall pick) in the 2004 draft.
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