Broncos claim veteran punter Spencer Lanning off waivers

Former Browns punter Spencer Lanning was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay. (Jason Miller, Getty Images)

Hours before their preseason opener at Seattle on Friday, the Broncos were awarded veteran punter Spencer Lanning off waivers from Tampa Bay.

The move brings the Broncos’ roster back up to 90 players following the non-signing of Matt Hall. The offensive tackle they claimed off waivers from Indianapolis last week opted to retire instead of signing with the team.

Lanning, a fifth-year punter out of South Carolina, was the Cleveland Browns’ punter the last two seasons, but was released in June when the team traded for Andy Lee. The Bucs claimed him off waivers three days later but released him in mid-August.

In 2013 and 2014, Lanning played all 32 games for Cleveland, recording a total of 177 punts that averaged 44.1 yards apiece with 14 touchbacks. He also kicked off 12 times.

In Denver, he joins veteran punter Britton Colquitt, who recently agreed to a reduced salary for 2015.

The team had signed kicker/punter Karl Schmitz in March, but the 28-year-old rookie out of Jacksonville University, who gained a following on YouTube, hasn’t played in a game since 2008.

The Broncos waived Schmitz two days after Colquitt agreed to his restructured deal and brought back defensive tackle Sione Fua.

Schmitz was later claimed by Tampa Bay.

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis has reiterated throughout training camp that he would prefer to limit his kicking group to two players, requiring one to double up on kickoffs and field goals or punts and kickoffs.

Kicker Connor Barth has been working to improve his leg strength so he can do both kickoffs and field goals, but DeCamillis said the competition remains close between him and Brandon McManus.

Now Colquitt, again, faces competition with punting.