Connor Barth bound for Tampa Bay after his release from Denver

WILMINGTON,NC (UPDATE) 8:40pm – Wednesday, August 26 – Connor Barth has announced on Twitter that he’s heading back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barth was released by the Denver Broncos on Wednesday morning. Barth originally signed with Tampa Bay in 2009, but the Bucs released him prior to the start of the 2014 NFL season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed late Wednesday night that they’ve come to terms with Connor Barth. The Hoggard High grad will compete with Patrick Murray for the Tampa Bay kicker’s job. Murray beat out Barth in 2014. Murray won the job just prior to the start of the 2014 NFL regular season.

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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Denver Broncos have released Wilmington native Connor Barth.

Barth, a Hoggard High School and UNC alum, made 15 of 16 field goals over the final five weeks last season, but he struggled with kickoffs this preseason.

Barth had starred with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before injuring his Achilles tendon during an off-season charity basketball game in Wilmington, which forced him to miss the entire 2013 season. The Bucs then cut him during training camp last summer.

Barth thanks the Broncos in a tweet this morning.

Want to say thank you to @Broncos and #BroncosCountry for a great run! Life is good! #blessed #nfl #toasttothat

— Connor Barth (@contbarth) August 26, 2015

The Broncos signed Barth in November to replace Brandon McManus, who had struggled kicking field goals. Barth earned AFC special teams player of the month honors December after going 5-for-5 against Kansas City and San Diego.

Barth will be replaced as the Broncos kicker by McManus.

(Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.)