Updated

Connor Barth says he never doubted he would kick again for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The seventh-year pro missed last season after tearing the Achilles tendon in his right foot during a charity basketball game. He's recovered from the injury and confident he'll perform as well as ever in 2014.

Barth is the most accurate field goal kicker in franchise history, converting 84.3 percent of his attempts since joining the Bucs in 2009.

He was hurt last summer, shortly before the start of training camp, leaving the team scrambling for a replacement. And while no could have blamed him for questioning whether he'd ever regain his pre-injury form, Barth insists the thought never entered his mind.

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