The Panthers signed former Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo to their practice earlier this week, a news item that might have gone unnoticed except for the fact that regular kicker Graham Gano is questionable for Sunday's game.
That game, coincidentally, just so happens to be against the Bucs in Tampa.
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Aguayo might get the call to play against the Bucs Sunday, with a chance to literally kick back against the team that cut him Aug. 12 after he missed a couple of field goals in a preseason game.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Gano, who did not practice Friday, is battling the flu. He is also still bothered by a sore knee that had him listed on the injury report last week before he played against the Bears.
That sore knee is what prompted the team to sign Aguayo, who has been kicking well in practice.
"We had (Aguayo) working the snap and hold today just in case," Rivera said. "It's strictly an emergency situation, but wow, he's kicking the ball pretty good."
That wasn't always the case when Aguayo was with the Bucs. He finished last in the NFL in field-goal percentage last season (71 percent, on 22-of-31 attempts). The former Florida State kicker faced unrealistic expectations not of his own doing that came after the Bucs made the unusual move of trading up in the 2016 NFL Draft to select him in the second round.
Gano "is expected to be good to go" Sunday, but players are listed as questionable for a reason. Aguayo facing his old team would be a juicy storyline.