Report: Colts Re-Signing Vital Member of Special Teams
The Indianapolis Colts are finalizing a deal to bring back free-agent punter Rigoberto Sanchez, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
"The #Colts are finalizing a deal with P Rigoberto Sanchez to return to Indy, sources say," Garafolo posted on X on Tuesday morning. "Should be officially agreed to shortly for Sanchez to return for season No. 7 and beyond in Indy."
Per Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports, it's a three-year deal for Sanchez.
Sanchez maintained stability at punter for the Colts when brought in as an undrafted free agent in 2017, following in the lineage of outstanding punters the likes of Pat McAfee, Hunter Smith, Chris Gardocki, and Rohn Stark.
Throughout his six-year playing career, Sanchez has punted 369 times for a net average of 41.7 yards while pinning 137 inside the opponent's 20-yard line (37.1%) and only accruing 14 touchbacks. He has also maintained kickoff and kick-holder duties for most of his time in the league.
Sanchez had a tumultuous couple of seasons in recent memory. In 2020, he had surgery to remove a tumor but missed just two games. Then, in training camp of 2022, Sanchez suffered a torn Achilles and missed the entire season before it even truly began. The Colts' punt game suffered, with replacement Matt Haack providing erratic results.
Sanchez returned to health last season, much to the delight of fans and his teammates. He punted the ball 68 times for a career-high net average of 42.8 yards, with 21 kicks inside the 20 (30.9%) and a career-best 0 touchbacks.
In the six seasons that Sanchez has played, Pro Football Focus has given him a top-10 NFL punter grade three times (2017, 2019, 2021), twice in which he was top-five ('19, '21).
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