Colts’ Vinatieri struggles again

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Indianapolis Colts already have had one surprise retirement thanks to Andrew Luck deciding to step away. If the NFL’s oldest player and career scoring leader keeps missing the uprights, Luck might not be the only player put on the reserve/retired list this year.

Adam Vinatieri continued his struggling start to his

24th season Sunday, missing not one but two extra points in a 19-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Only the Titans failing to convert on fourth-and-2 at the Indianapolis 45 in the final seconds kept Tennessee from at least attempting a field goal to cost the Colts their first win.

The 46-year-old Vinatieri didn’t talk after the game with his locker empty quickly.

Indianapolis coach Frank Reich insisted he wasn’t worried about Vinatieri.

“I have zero concern,” Reich said. “I mean, he hit the upright on the one. You probably saw the first one. It was not a good operation. The snap and hold was not clean. I’ve held for kicks. The ball was barely on the ground, it was not clean. … Zero concern.”

Colts owner Jim Irsay differed, saying Vinatieri’s mechanics are an issue. “Yeah, it’s a concern,” Irsay told the Indianapolis Star. “We’ll talk and try to take emotion out of big decisions.”