Matt Prater has been one of the more dependable kickers throughout his 18-year NFL career. However, the Arizona Cardinals kicker is not playing in the team’s Monday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
What happened to Prater, and who is kicking for the Cardinals instead?
Why Matt Prater Is Out
Prater was placed on injured reserve after the Cardinals’ Week 6 game against the Green Bay Packers. He actually hasn’t kicked since Week 4 due to a left knee injury, but the Cardinals held out hope that he could return sooner.
As it turns out, the 40-year-old kicker will need a little more recovery time. Prater doesn’t receive credit for time missed, however, and cannot return until Week 12 at the earliest (the Cardinals have a bye in Week 11).
Prater was perfect on the season at the time of his injury, going 6 for 6 on field goals and 10 for 10 on extra points.
Who Is the Cardinals’ Kicker With Prater Out?
In the meantime, the Cardinals’ kicker is second-year pro Chad Ryland. The name may sound familiar to draft fans, as Ryland was a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, Ryland’s rookie season was a disaster in Foxboro. He went just 16 for 25 (64%) on field goals, the worst conversion rate of any kicker to attempt multiple field goals last season.
While he did make a game-winning 56-yarder to beat the Denver Broncos in Week 16, Ryland was much more known for his untimely misses. Most infamously, he missed a 35-yarder that would have sent the Patriots’ Week 12 game vs. the New York Giants to overtime.
Giants win on the Patriots missed field goal. #NEvsNYG pic.twitter.com/7VY2vqmDBz
— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2023
That miss may have inadvertently swung the fortunes of both franchises.
The 4-13 Patriots finished with the No. 3 overall pick and took quarterback Drake Maye. The Giants, meanwhile, finished 6-11 and ended up picking No. 6 overall.
While wide receiver Malik Nabers has thoroughly impressed in his rookie season, the Giants were well-known suitors for Maye and worked hard to trade up for the North Carolina quarterback.
However, Ryland’s second season is going much better. He has gone 5 for 6 on field goals and made both his extra-point attempts. In his Cardinals debut, Ryland made the game-winning 35-yard field goal in Arizona’s upset win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Huge road win for the #Cardinals and a clutch kick by Chad Ryland, who was signed off the street five days ago.
Meanwhile, the #49ers fall to 2-3. pic.twitter.com/XQFsPTkhXd
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 6, 2024
Now Ryland will receive at least four more games to audition for other teams, or perhaps even earn the permanent job in Arizona.