When the Vikings placed Rhys Lloyd on waivers in their final cuts this month it was mentioned that the kickoff specialist might be brought back. It turns out that won't happen.
Lloyd, who received $200,000 in guarantees to sign with the Vikings this offseason, was signed by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday after going through a workout with the team. Lloyd had spent the past two years kicking off for Carolina and led the NFL with 30 touchbacks in 2008.
Lloyd, however, didn't make much of a mark with the Vikings in the first three preseason games and while he showed a strong leg against Denver in the preseason finale it was too late.
Carolina had signed a kickoff specialist in Todd Carter but he suffered from back spasms on Sunday against the Giants and could not continue. Carter and the Panthers reached an injury settlement, according to the Associated Press.
Veteran John Kasay remains the Panthers' kicker on field-goal and extra-point attempts.
