Michael Palardy enters his third season with Carolina after earning the starting punter job in 2017. Last year, he ranked fifth in the NFL in net punting average (42.4), a mark that set a single-season franchise record.

NFL RANKINGS
• Ranked fifth in the NFL in net punting average (42.4) in 2017.

FRANCHISE RANKINGS
• Set franchise record for highest net punting average (42.4) in single season in 2017.
• Tied for third-fewest touchbacks (4) among qualifying punters in single season in 2017.

PRO CAREER
• Played in all 16 games for Carolina in 2017, delivering career-best season numbers with a net punting average of 42.4 and gross punting average of 46.0...Landed 25 punts inside the 20 and only allowed four touchbacks.
• Set franchise record for highest net punting average (42.4) in single season in 2017.
• Posted single-game career-best net average of 48.7 at San Francisco in season opener (9/10/17).
• Booted career-long 63 yard punt at New York Jets (11/26/17).
• Played in the final seven games of 2016 for Carolina, filling in for an injured Andy Lee...Notched a 42.5-yard gross average and recorded 13 punts inside the 20-yard line.

TRANSACTIONS: Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by Oakland (6/5/14)...Waived by Oakland (8/7/14)...Signed to practice squad by Oakland (12/24/14)...Signed as a free agent by St. Louis (1/5/15)...Waived by St. Louis (9/1/15)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (4/5/16)...Waived by Carolina (6/8/16)...Signed as a free agent by Baltimore (7/30/16)...Waived by Baltimore (8/3/16)...Signed as a free agent by Indianapolis (8/6/16)...Waived by Indianapolis (8/15/16)...Signed as a free agent by Cleveland (8/31/16)...Waived by Cleveland (9/4/16)...Signed to practice squad by Cleveland (9/6/16)...Terminated from practice squad by Cleveland (9/22/16)...Signed to practice squad by Atlanta (10/5/16)...Terminated from practice squad by Atlanta (10/10/16)...Signed as a free agent by Carolina (11/14/16).

GP/GS: Career (23/0) [1/0]; 2017 (16/0) [1/0]; 2016 (7/0).

2017
Played in all 16 games as Carolina's punter...Averaged a net distance of 42.4 yards on 71 punts with a gross average of 46.0, both career bests...Booted 25 balls inside the 20 with only four touchbacks...At San Francisco (9/10)…Punted three times for a career-best net average of 48.7 yards per punt…Recorded a then-career-long 58-yard punt…At Chicago (10/22)…Recorded a career-high 52.6-yard gross average, punting five times for 263 yards…At Tampa Bay (10/29)…Punted a career-high seven times for a 50.4-yard gross average…Placed a career-high four punts inside the 20, including three inside the 10…Notched four punts of at least 50 yards…At New York Jets (11/26)…Punted six times for a gross average of 47.3 yards and a net average of 46.2...Posted a career-long 63-yard boot on first punt of the day...At Atlanta (12/31)...Tied a career-high with seven punts...Recorded a gross average of 47.0 yards and a net average of 44.4 yards.
POSTSEASON: At New Orleans (1/7)...Punted three times for an average of 48.3 yards per punt and a net average of 42.7 yards.

COLLEGE
Played in 46 games at Tennessee...Left-footed...Finished career second in school history with a 42.9-yard punting average on 117 punts with 50 inside the 20, seven touchbacks, one block and long of 69 yards...Converted 37-of-50 field goal attempts to rank third in school history with a 74.0 accuracy rate...Made 109-of-115 extra point tries...Totaled 220 points...Served as primary kickoff specialist all four seasons...As a senior in 2013, Second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection...Tied for first in the nation with 33 punts inside the 20...Averaged 44.5 yards on 63 punts, including 19 of more than 50 yards...Connected on 34-of-35 extra point tries and 14-of-17 field goal attempts for a team-leading 76 points.

PERSONAL
Attended St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale, Fla....Majored in communication studies at Tennessee.