In a move destined to please Penn State fans, the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers have signed erstwhile Nittany Lions punter Jeremy Kapinos to replace Daniel Sepulveda, who was moved to the IR with a season-ending ACL tear.
Kapinos, 26, punted in one game this season for the Indianapolis Colts and averaged 44. ???? ?????? ????? 5 yards on four punts, including a long of 55 yards and two punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He also posted a 37.0 net average in the game.
Kapinos spent the 2009 season with the Green Bay Packers and averaged 43.8 yards on 66 punts, including 15 punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. ???????? ?? ???????? He originally signed with Green Bay as a free agent on Dec. ????? ????? ?? ??????? 3, 2008, and averaged 39.1 yards on 17 punts during the final four games of the season. He was not re-signed by Green Bay in 2010 and did not participate in a training camp this past summer.
Kapinos originally signed as an undrafted rookie with the New York Jets in 2007 after receiving third-team All-America honors as a senior in 2006 at Penn State. He was released in training camp but re-signed with the Jets late in the season and played in the final game of the year a Tennessee. He averaged 41.6 yards on five punts against the Titans.
Kapinos will wear No. 3 for the Steelers.
Sepulveda was placed on the Steelers’ Reserve/Injured List today after injuring his right knee in Sunday night’s 13-10 bloodbath victory over Baltimore. Sepulveda will be out for the remainder of the season.