Paulescu Becomes 4th Redskins Punter This Season

The Redskins will use their fourth punter this season when they play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Hunter Smith's right groin injury is acting up again, so the Redskins signed former Dallas punter Sam Paulescu (poh-LEHS-kyoo) on Friday. To make room on the roster, the team waived RB Quinton Ganther.

The 25-year-old Paulescu has a career 41.7-yard average on 58 punts with the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.  In 2008, he averaged 41.8-yards per punt and a 35.2 net average with the Cowboys.  He also punted in one game with the Broncos in 2007. Paulescu will wear jersey number 4.

Ganther signed with the Redskins on Oct. 20 and was inactive in one game.

Smith pulled his groin in his kicking leg during the Oct. 4 game vs. Tampa Bay. Kicker Shaun Suisham punted for the rest of that game, then Glenn Pakulak was signed to handle the next two games.

Smith aggravated his injury in the Philadelphia game before last week's bye and was unable to punt when practice resumed this week.