Matt Prater‘s age-40 season stalled months ago. The Cardinals placed the veteran kicker on IR, and it later became known he underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear.
The team had not given up on Prater coming back before season’s end, and he will have a shot to help a playoff push. Prater is back at Cardinals practice, being designated to return from IR. Prater has been out since Week 4.
Chad Ryland has served as the Cards’ kicker since, having made 22 of 26 field goals and all 18 of his extra point tries. Prater is, however, one of this era’s best kickers. He has been a full-time kicker since the 2007 season. The former Broncos and Lions specialist has been with the Cardinals since 2021.
On his second Cardinals contract, Prater is moving toward free agency. He resides as the NFL’s oldest kicker presently, being a few months older than fellow 40-year-old Nick Folk, and sits among the few 40-somethings still in the league. This season, Prater was 6 of 6 on field goals and 10-for-10 on PATs. This included a 57-yard make prior to the IR stint.
Prater tore the meniscus in his plant leg. Formerly holding the NFL record for the longest field goal (64 yards as a Bronco in 2013), Prater has set and matched the Cardinals’ mark — via 62-yarders in 2021 and ’23. It would surprise if the Cards stayed with Ryland for much longer, but Prater will need to prove he is healthy while in his IR-return window.