Matt Prater

Arizona Cardinals
Place Kicker #5
Arizona Cardinals
Place Kicker #5
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Matt Prater News

Misses PAT in finale

Prater did not attempt a field goal and missed one of two extra-point tries in Sunday's 38-13 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Prater's missed PAT was his only this season. The veteran also made 22 of his 25 field-goal attempts, proving fairly accurate despite a struggling Arizona offense limiting his opportunities. In missing four games due to a hip injury as well, Prater's 83 total points ranked 30th among kickers league-wide. The 38-year-old is now slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Jan 10, 2023 5:37 PM EST


Heavily involved in Week 17

Prater went 4-for-5 on field-goal tries and made his only PAT attempt in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Falcons.

Analysis: Prater was busy again Sunday, making multiple field goals for the fourth consecutive game. The 38-year-old was able to convert a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter, a 36-yarder in each of the second and third quarters before later adding a 57-yard boot in the final period. His only miss came late in the third, sailing a 43-yard try wide left. Prater has gone 12-for-14 on field-goal attempts over the last four contests, raising his season total to 22 makes over 25 tries while appearing in 12 games.

Jan 2, 2023 9:44 AM EST



Busy in Week 16

Prater went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made his only PAT try in Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Prater was busy for a second consecutive week Sunday, making a 56-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 53-yarder in the second quarter. He later added a third field goal from 39 yards in the fourth quarter while also adding a PAT in the final period of regulation. Prater has now attempted three field goals in three consecutive games, going 8-for-9 over that stretch, including four makes from over 50 yards. Arizona has a plus matchup in Week 17 against Atlanta, giving the kicker another opportunity to be heavily involved on New Year's Day.

Dec 26, 2022 7:15 AM EST


Makes three FGs in Week 15

Prater made all three of his field-goal attempts and didn't attempt a PAT in Sunday's 24-15 loss to Denver.

Analysis: Prater was effective from deep in the Colorado altitude, making kicks of 45, 50 and 55 yards. The Cardinals went for two after their only touchdown, and opportunities could be scarce moving forward, as Arizona could be down to third-string quarterback Trace McSorley if Colt McCoy (concussion) joins Kyler Murray (knee) on the sidelines.

Dec 19, 2022 12:11 PM EST


Misses one field goal in loss

Prater converted two of three field-goal attempts and his only extra-point try during Monday's 27-13 loss to the Patriots.

Analysis: Prater's opportunities were limited due to Kyler Murray (knee) exiting Monday's loss early, and Arizona's offense stalling after that. The veteran has missed just two out of 14 field-goal attempts on the season, but his lack of consistent opportunities keeps him off the fantasy radar heading into a tough Week 15 matchup against Denver.

Dec 13, 2022 8:41 AM EST



Nets six points in Week 12

Prater made one of two field-goal attempts and all three point-after tries in Sunday's 25-24 defeat to the Chargers.

Analysis: Prior to Week 12, Prater was perfect on his 19 combined FGAs and PATs this season, so his miss from 49 yards out at the end of the Cardinals' first possession of the second half proved telling in a one-point loss. With the six-point effort, he amazingly upped his points per game on the campaign from 5.3 to 5.4, leaving him on the outside looking in at fantasy relevance.

Nov 28, 2022 9:11 PM EST


Nails both kicks Monday

Prater made his only field-goal attempt and only point-after try during Monday's 38-10 loss to the 49ers.

Analysis: Prater was back in action after sitting out Week 10 due to an illness, but a Cardinals offense led by backup quarterback Colt McCoy wasn't able to generate many scoring opportunities. Even when No. 1 QB Kyler Murray was healthy in Prater's six other appearances this season, though, the kicker attempted just eight FGAs and nine PATs. With an average of 5.3 points per game on the campaign, Prater ranks 29th in the NFL among placekickers with at least as many showings (seven) as he's managed.

Nov 22, 2022 11:57 AM EST


Puts in full practice Thursday

Prater (hip/illness) practiced fully Thursday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Prater has been tending to a hip injury since Week 4 that sidelined him Weeks 5-7. He was able to handle scoring chances Week 8 before taking on all kicking duties Week 9, but an illness forced him to miss another contest this past Sunday at the Rams. The Cardinals signaled Prater's relative health when they waived his Week 10 replacement Tuesday, and indeed the former was back in full capacity to start Week 11 prep. Prater thus is set to be the team's kicker Monday against the 49ers in Mexico City.

Nov 17, 2022 4:36 PM EST


Won't play Week 10

Arizona downgraded Prater (hip/illness) from questionable to out in advance of Sunday's game against the Rams, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Analysis: Though Prater took the questionable designation into the weekend, his absence for the Week 10 game appeared to be a foregone conclusion after he didn't travel with the Cardinals to Los Angeles on Saturday. With Prater sidelined for the fourth time in six games on account of the right hip issue, the Cardinals have elevated Tristan Vizcaino from the practice squad to handle kicking duties this weekend.

Nov 13, 2022 8:53 AM EST


Doesn't travel with team

Prater (hip/illness) did not travel with the Cardinals to Los Angeles on Saturday, but he remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Howard Balzer of SI.com reports.

Analysis: In addition to his hip issue, Prater has also been dealing with an illness. If he's feeling better, Balzer reports that Prater will travel on his own to Los Angeles in time for Arizona's Week 10 matchup. However, the team also signed Tristan Vizcaino on Saturday as insurance in case Prater is unable to suit up.

Nov 12, 2022 9:18 PM EST


Questionable to face Rams

Prater (hip/illness) didn't practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Analysis: Prater missed Weeks 5-7 with the hip injury and has been limited in practice ever since, but his absence Friday seems to be on account of the illness, which is ill-timed at the end of the week. If the Cardinals are truly concerned about Prater's availability, they'll need to sign another kicker Friday night or Saturday.

Nov 11, 2022 1:24 PM EST


Another limited showing

Prater (hip) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Analysis: As has been the norm for Prater the last three weeks, he's operating with a cap on his practice reps as he manages a right hip injury that forced him to sit out Weeks 5-7. Assuming the Cardinals remove his designation for a second straight week Friday, he'll be set to handle all kicking duties for the team Sunday at the Rams.

Nov 10, 2022 3:42 PM EST


Stays limited by hip issue

Prater (right hip) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Kevin Parrish Jr. of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Analysis: It's no surprise that Prater continues to show up on Arizona practice reports after sitting out Weeks 5-7 due to a right hip injury. When available this season, he's been on point, making all eight field-goal attempts and all nine point-after tries in six appearances, but that amounts to a measly 5.5 points per game. Assuming he gets rid of his designation by week's end, Prater will be looking to replicate his best performance of the season from Week 4, as he hit all four FGAs against Sunday's opponent, the Rams, in that contest.

Nov 9, 2022 2:43 PM EST


Hits all three PATs on Sunday

Prater nailed all three point-after tries during Sunday's 31-21 loss to the Seahawks.

Analysis: One week removed from handling just placekicking duties while Rodrigo Blankenship (undisclosed) was a kickoff specialist, Prater took on all kicking for the Cardinals on Sunday with the former off the team via an injury settlement. Still, Prater's production continues to be lacking, as his 5.5 points per game ranks 27th in the NFL for kickers to have made at least six appearances this season.

Nov 7, 2022 8:35 PM EST


Set for all kicking duties Sunday

Prater (hip) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's contest versus the Seahawks, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Analysis: Despite the Cards and coach Kliff Kingsbury signaling Prater was ready to resume all kicking duties for the team by cutting Rodrigo Blankenship (undisclosed) on Wednesday, Prater was limited in every practice during Week 9 prep. But Friday's injury report cleared Prater of a designation, so he'll suit up and handle kickoffs in addition to placekicking duties Sunday. On the campaign, he's averaging a measly 6.0 points in his five appearances.

Nov 4, 2022 3:00 PM EST


Stays limited Thursday

Prater (hip) practiced on a limited basis Thursday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Analysis: With Rodrigo Blankenship (undisclosed) out of the picture, Prater doesn't have any impediments to resuming all kicking duties for the Cardinals, except perhaps his own health. While coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday that Prater was set to do so, he so far has had a cap in both sessions this week. Friday's injury report may paint a clearer picture regarding Prater's status ahead of Sunday's contest against the Seahawks.

Nov 3, 2022 5:14 PM EST


Remains limited by hip

Prater (right hip) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Analysis: This follows comments from coach Kliff Kingsbury earlier Wednesday that Prater was fully cleared for all kicking duties moving forward. That likely will be the case Sunday versus the Seahawks and beyond, especially after the Cardinals waived Rodrigo Blankenship (undisclosed) with an injury settlement, but Prater's activity level now will be watched as the weekend approaches to see if he can add kickoffs to his placekicking.

Nov 2, 2022 2:11 PM EST


Full go moving forward

Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday that Prater is set to handle all placekicking duties for the Cardinals moving forward, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

Analysis: The Cardinals signaled as much when they waived Rodrigo Blankenship (undisclosed) with an injury settlement earlier Wednesday. In his return to action this past Sunday at Minnesota, Prater took on both field-goal attempts and both point-after tries, while Blankenship handled kickoffs. With the latter out of the picture, though, Prater is good to go for kickoffs Sunday against the Seahawks and beyond.

Nov 2, 2022 12:29 PM EST


Perfect in return to action

Prater made both field-goal attempts and both point-after tries during Sunday's 34-26 loss at Minnesota.

Analysis: In his return to action following a three-game absence due to a sore right hip, Prater remained perfect on the season, as he's hit true on 14 combined FGAs and PATs. Overall, though, he's averaging just 6.0 points in his five appearances, which ranks 29th among kickers to have played at least that many games in 2022. In any case, Prater appears to have staved off Rodrigo Blankenship for scoring chances, though the latter may hold on to kickoff duties until the former is healthy enough to handle them.

Oct 31, 2022 9:29 PM EST


Back in action Sunday

Prater (hip) is active for Sunday's game at Minnesota, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Analysis: After logging limited practices all week, Prater has been cleared to return for the first time since Week 4. However, Rodrigo Blankenship also is active, so there's a chance that Prater may be available for just field-goal attempts and point-after tries, with the former handling kickoffs, as coach Kliff Kingsbury intimated earlier in the week. In four appearances on the campaign, Prater has yet to miss any of his four FGAs or six PATs.

Oct 30, 2022 8:36 AM EST


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