Who Should I Start? Matt Prater or Austin Seibert

Friday, January 3, 12:10 PM

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that veteran kicker Matt Prater (knee) "will not go" in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers. Prater suffered a meniscus injury in his knee earlier this year and missed the last three months as a result. The 40-year-old kicker only ended up playing in four games in 2024 before injuring his knee in his fourth year with Arizona and 18th year in the NFL. In the four games he was active, Prater made all six of his field-goal attempts (one from 50-plus yards) and was successful on all 10 of his extra-point tries as well. Prater will be a free agent heading into his age-41 season in 2025. Chad Ryland will close out the year this weekend as Arizona's kicker. He's bounced back from a tough rookie season with the Pats to go 26-for-30 on field goals and 21-for-22 on extra points in his 12 games with the Cardinals.

Tuesday, November 26, 4:30 PM

The Washington Commanders placed kicker Austin Seibert (hip) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, meaning he will have to miss at least the next four games. Seibert was held out of action in Weeks 10 and 11 due to a right-hip injury and returned for the Week 12 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys, where he missed a 50-plus yard field goal and two extra-points -- one at the end of the contest that would have tied the game. The 28-year-old didn't look right and now won't be eligible to return to Washington until the regular-season finale in Week 18 versus the Cowboys. With Seibert on the shelf, the Commanders will most likely bring Zane Gonzalez back to the active roster after he filled in for Seibert in Weeks 10 and 11. The 29-year-old Gonzalez made his return to the NFL this year for the first time since 2021 and went 3-for-3 on FGs and 4-for-4 on extra points in his two games recently for Washington.