Mike

Windt

Windt has been San Diego’s deep snapper for the last two seasons.

The Bolts’ long-snapper for the past three years, Windt fractured his wrist in last week’s game at Denver. Kyle Nelson has been signed to take his place.

Windt, 27 in May, was scheduled for restricted free agency. He is healthy after his 2012 season ended on injured reserve with a fractured hand. Chargers punter Mike Scifres is a big fan of Windt and will be happy he is back.

He got $620,000 guaranteed. Turning 31 in May, Windt has been long snapping for the Bolts since 2010.

Windt went undrafted out of Cincinnati in April. The Chargers are going with the rookie free agent over 38-year-old Ethan Albright.

Undrafted rookie C Mike Windt was also let go. Bryant is released on the same day as Laveranues Coles was by the Jets, making some history. They were massive, $30 million free agent busts for Cincinnati and ended up being released in back-to-back years. At least Coles played a down for the Bengals. Bryant never did, but will collect a $3.6 million signing bonus, $3.1 million roster bonus (paid in March), and a $250,000 offseason workout bonus. The Bengals will open the season with Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, and Jordan Shipley as their top three receivers.

Windt has big shoes to fill after Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding called Binn the “Michael Jordan of long snapping” Tuesday. Windt fared well handling the duties in the final 11 games of last season.