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.
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