Carolina Panthers waive Swayze Waters, sign former Wofford punter

The Carolina Panthers’ continuing search for a punter took another turn Monday, costing one player his job and prompting a homecoming for a former Wofford specialist.

The Panthers waived inconsistent Swayze Waters and signed ex-Terriers punter Kasey Redfern, who will practice for one day on his old campus before the Panthers break camp Tuesday and head back to Charlotte.

Redfern is the fourth punter the Panthers have signed since Super Bowl 50 while looking for a replacement for Brad Nortman, who signed a free agent deal with Jacksonville in March.

Redfern follows Waters, the since-departed Michael Palardy and free agent acquisition Mike Scifres, who has been limited in camp after offseason knee surgery to his non-kicking leg.

Redfern, a native of Jamestown, has spent time with San Diego and Jacksonville but has never punted in a regular-season game. He was on the Chargers’ practice squad for the final game in 2015 and was in San Diego’s camp this summer before being waived last week.

Redfern punted at Wofford from 2010-13, averaging 39.6 yards on 146 punts. He also attempted 19 field goals in college, and could give Graham Gano a break by taking some kicks during the preseason.

Waters came to Charlotte in February after four years in the CFL, where he was the Special Teams Player of the Year in 2014.

But he failed to string together many solid punts with the Panthers. Waters averaged 34.3 yards on three punts last week at Baltimore, with two downed inside the 20.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 7:46 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers waive Swayze Waters, sign former Wofford punter."