Tag: Matt Prater

Tough decision coming for Cardinals if Matt Prater returns from IR

If Prater comes back from injured reserve, the Cardinals could risk a future with Chad Ryland as their kicker.

The Arizona Cardinals will have a very tough decision to make if kicker Matt Prater is able tor return from injured reserve before the end of the season.

He has missed the last six games and has been on IR for the requisite four games and could be designated to return this coming week and activated to play against the Seattle Seahawks.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said he expects Prater to play again this season and that Prater “is itching to get back” on the field.

But as great as Prater has been in his career, he is 40 years old and will be a free agent after the season.

Meanwhile, Chad Ryland, who has been Prater’s replacement the last six weeks, has been fantastic, making all 13 of his extra points and 11-of-12 field goals, including three game-winners.

Ryland is young, has leg strength (he has made a 57-yarder this season) and has proven to be clutch.

He is under contract for next season, although even if he weren’t and made it to the end of the season with the team, he would be an exclusive rights free agent.

Ryland looks like he could be the kicker of the near future for Arizona.

But if Prater returns and they cut Ryland, they will almost assuredly lose him to another team who needs a reliable kicker or whose regular kicker is hurt.

Once cut, the Cardinals have no control what happens to Ryland.

So they must decide, if Prater can in fact return, whether having Prater the rest of the season is better and more valuable than having Ryland now and beyond.

Prater is one of the greatest kickers ever. Ryland has been great this year but had struggles as a rookie in 2023 with New England.

As the Cardinals compete for the postseason over the next few weeks, it will be perhaps the toughest roster decision they make.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

K Matt Prater, DL Bilal Nichols land on IR

The Cardinals will have Chad Ryland as their kicker for at least the next month.

When the Arizona Cardinals signed kicker Chad Ryland to the practice squad on Oct. 2, it was said that Matt Prater had a little knee soreness and there was still the possibility he would kick in that week’s game against the 49ers.

Now, not only has Prater missed the last two games, but he will miss at least another four after being placed on injured Wednesday. Ryland, who has made five of his six field-goal attempts in the two games he was elevated from the practice squad, was signed to the active roster. Prater, who turned 40 in August, is in the final year of his contract.

In addition, another defensive lineman was placed on injured reserve with Bilal Nichols going on the list after suffering a stinger in Sunday’s loss to the Packers. Unless Darius Robinson is activated for Monday night’s game against the Chargers, the Cardinals will be without all three defensive linemen projected to be starters before the season.

But, always remember, all teams have injuries.

Monday, when head coach Jonathan Gannon was asked if any of the injuries the team was “sorting through” might be serious, he said, “Right now that’s what it’s looking like. Bumps and bruises of Week 6, but nothing crazy it looks (like) right now.”

Even if Robinson is able to play this week, he will likely be on a snap count after experiencing discomfort in his calf in his first practice last week after being injured Aug. 22.

Defensive lineman Justin Jones was placed on injured reserve after Week 3 and is out for the season because of a torn triceps suffered against the Lions.

The Cardinals also released tight end Jordan Murray and offensive lineman Austen Pleasants from the practice squad.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

3 ex-Broncos players found new NFL homes on Tuesday

Ex-Broncos players Brandon McManus (Packers), Marquez Callaway (Bucs) and Ronnie Perkins (Cardinals) found new NFL homes on Tuesday.

A trio of former Denver Broncos players found new NFL homes on Tuesday.

Perhaps most notably, the Green Bay Packers signed kicker Brandon McManus. He served as Denver’s kicker from 2014-2022, helping the team win Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed wide receiver Marquez Callaway. He had a cup of coffee with the Broncos last summer, competing in training camp and preseason before being cut when Denver set its 53-man roster.

Finally, the Arizona Cardinals signed pass rusher Ronnie Perkins to their practice squad. Perkins spent part of the last two years with the Broncos before being released from injured reserve with an injury settlement last month.

Elsewhere on the ex-Denver player front, the Falcons promoted defensive lineman Matt Hennessy to their 53-man roster.

On the injury front, the Cardinals placed kicker Matt Prater (knee) on injured reserve and the Lions placed defensive lineman Kyle Peko (pec) on IR.

As for the Broncos, they cut two players on Tuesday, perhaps to make room for other players set to return from IR this week.

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Cardinals’ practice squad elevations for Week 5 make it look like a starter is out

Check out the two players the Cardinals elevated to the active roster for their game against the 49ers and what the moves mean.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a pair of roster moves Saturday and it appears that one starter who was questionable to play will in fact play while the other could be out.

They announced Saturday afternoon that kicker Chad Ryland and tackle Charlie Heck were elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.

Kicker Matt Prater is officially questionable for the game with a left knee injury. The elevation means Prater either won’t be able to play or the decision will come Sunday morning. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday.

There is a scenario in which both Ryland and Prater are active, with Ryland handling only kickoffs. That, though, is a less likely scenario.

Ryland, a fourth-round pick of New England in 2023, made 16-of-25 field goal attempts and 24-of-25 PATs as a rookie last season. He went 5-for-7 from 30 to 39 yards with both misses from 35. He was 5-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards with misses from 41, 47 (twice) and 48 (twice). He was 2-for-4 from 50-plus yards, missing from 52 and 57 yards.

With the elevation of Heck, it appears that starter Kelvin Beachum, questionable with a hamstring injury, will be good to go. Heck will be the backup swing tackle as the Cardinals have no other backup tackles active.

Rookie tackle Christian Jones, who returned to practice this week and is eligible to be activated from injured reserve, was not activated.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Where is Cardinals K Matt Prater?

The Cardinals signed a kicker to the practice squad and Prater was not at practice. What is going on?

Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater was not on the field Wednesday morning for the portion of practice open to the media.

There were some raised eyebrows last Friday when the Cardinals had tryouts with kickers Anders Carlson and Chad Ryland, especially when Prater was not on the injury report that day and kicked in the game against the Commanders.

Is there an injury? Is it a personal issue that the team knew was coming when they had the tryouts on Friday?

The team announced Ryland was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday, adding intrigue.

We will learn something when the injury report is revealed later Wednesday.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke to the media at 9:45 Wednesday morning, and the team announced the addition of Ryland a little less than an hour later, about 15 minutes before practice started.

Also not on the field were cornerback Garrett Williams and rookie guard Isaiah Adams.

Adams was added to the injury report this past Friday with a thumb injury and played two special teams snaps against Washington.

Confirming what Gannon told the media, tight end Trey McBride (concussion) and defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga (knee), who both did not play Sunday, were on the field as was rookie tackle Christian Jones, who has been designated for return from injured reserve.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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6 ex-Broncos will face Denver in Week 3 of NFL preseason

Six former Broncos players will return to Empower Field at Mile High to play against their former team on Sunday.

A half-dozen ex-Denver Broncos players will return to Empower Field at Mile High to play against their former team on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals have six ex-Broncos on their roster — two on offense, two on defense and two on special teams. Denver is set to host Arizona in Sunday’s preseason finale.

Cardinals offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2017. He dressed for 45 games in four years in Denver, earning 26 starts moving between guard and tackle.

Arizona running back Tony Jones went to training camp with the Broncos last summer but did not make the squad after preseason.

Cardinals defensive back Delonte Hood spent time on Denver’s practice squad in 2022 before being released in 2023.

Arizona cornerback Michael Ojemudia was picked by the Broncos in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Iowa. He played in 21 games with 12 starts from 2020-2022 before being waived.

Cardinals long snapper Aaron Brewer landed in Denver as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in 2012. He spent four years as the team’s long snapper before being released in 2016.

Arizona kicker Matt Prater played for the Broncos from 2007-2014, converting a then-NFL record 64-yard field goal in 2013. Denver replaced Prater with Brandon McManus during the 2014 season.

Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on CBS.

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2024 Cardinals roster preview: K Matt Prater

We will preview every player on the Cardinals’ roster heading into training camp. This is about kicker Matt Prater.

The Arizona Cardinals will open training camp July 23 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team.

Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2023, questions they face and their roster outlook.

Next up is kicker Matt Prater.

Background

Wow; where to begin?!! Well, with the basics. Prater, who started his career as an undrafted free agent with the Falcons in 2006 and will be 39 on Aug. 10, kicked for Atlanta, the Broncos and Lions before being signed by the Cardinals as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. His 1,780 career points in 250 games is second among active players and 15th all-time. He has a career total of 401 field goals and holds the NFL record for 50-plus-yard field goals with 80, most consecutive 50-plus-yard field goals with 14, most consecutive 55-plus-yard field goals in a season (2023) with six and most consecutive 55-plus-yard field goals with seven. Prater has three field goals of 60 yards of more, tying Greg Zuerlein for the second-most in history and one behind Brett Maher. Overall, he has made 83.5 percent of his field-goal attempts and 74.8 percent from 50 yards or more.

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Tom Dempsey’s record-setting 63-yard field goal is the Saints Play of the Day

Tom Dempsey’s record-setting 63-yard field goal is the New Orleans Saints Play of the Day. He held that record for 43 years:

There are 63 days left on the calendar until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2024 regular season, which makes Tom Dempsey’s record-setting 63-yard field goal the Saints Play of the Day.

Dempsey nailed the longest field goal in NFL history against the Detroit Lions in 1970, sending the game-winner through the upright as time expired — which was one of just two victories the Saints enjoyed that season. Having been born without toes on his right foot, Dempsey used a special box-toed boot that was later banned by the league.

His kick led to multiple NFL rules changes and stood as the record for 43 years. Several kickers tied him for distance, but Dempsey’s record wasn’t broken until Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater made good from 64 yards (taking advantage of the thin air at altitude, though in below-freezing temperatures). They were both lapped by Baltimore Ravens fan favorite Justin Tucker in 2021, when he set a new record from 66 yards.

Still, Dempsey’s place in NFL history is secure. Generations of fans knew who set that record, and for many Saints fans it was the highlight of the team’s early days. He’ll be missed, having died in 2020, but Dempsey — and his achievements as someone to cheer for when New Orleans truly needed it — won’t be forgotten.

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Matt Prater takes blame for loss even when others won’t give it

“I understand it’s a team game, but at the end of the day I have a job to do and my job is to make field goals.”

Kick Matt Prater missed two field goals in the final three minutes of the Arizona Cardinals’ 21-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

His head coach and his teammates refused to pin the loss on his missed kicks but he firmly placed the blame on his shoulders.

The 43-yard attempt he missed wide right with 2:56 to go in the game would have given the Cardinals a 10-point lead, which would have basically locked up the win. Seattle would have needed to score once, recover an onside kick and score again to win.

After Seattle scored on the ensuing drive and made the two-point conversion to take a one-point lead, the Cardinals got in position for a game-winning 51-yard attempt with one second left. Prater missed that one wide right as well.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said after the game, “it’s not about Matt.”

Gannon preaches team. No loss is on a player. No loss comes down to one play. They win together and lose together.

Prater appreciated the sentiment but took the blame himself.

“It was 100% on me,” he said after the game. “I understand it’s a team game, but at the end of the day I have a job to do and my job is to make field goals, especially if I have two opportunities at the end of the game. I’ve got to come through for the team on those kicks. I appreciate what JG said, but the way I look at it, it’s on me.”

What happened on the kicks?

On the first time, he said he “hit it a little fat (and) pushed it right.”

“I thought it was a fluke on the first one, didn’t make the adjustment and did the same kick (on the 51-yarder). I’ll learn from it and hopefully it doesn’t happen again, ever.”

It was a disappointing way to end a fantastic season for Prater, but he will be back next year (he is under contract for 2024) and can make up for it.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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4 takeaways from Chargers’ 13-12 loss to Chiefs

The Chargers closed out the regular season with five consecutive losses.

Los Angeles ended the season with their fifth consecutive loss, dropping them to 5-12 at the hands of a skeleton crew Chiefs unit.

Here’s what to take away from the game.