ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals sign kicker Matt Prater to 2-year deal

Mar 17, 2021, 4:25 PM | Updated: 4:25 pm

Matt Prater #5 of the Detroit Lions kicks a 56-yard FG in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay ...

Matt Prater #5 of the Detroit Lions kicks a 56-yard FG in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on December 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

The Arizona Cardinals have signed veteran kicker Matt Prater to a two-year contract, the franchise announced Wednesday.

Prater, 36, made 21 of his 28 field goal attempts for the Detroit Lions, where he had previously been since 2014. All seven of those misses came from 40 yards and beyond, as Prater has not converted from inside 40 yards only twice in the past five years. He was 38-of-41 on extra points last season and 35-of-36 in 2019.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Prater has made 83% of his 386 career field goal attempts. Prater is known for being one of the best power legs of all time, holding the record for the NFL’s longest field goal at 64 yards and his 59 career makes from 50 yards or beyond is the most ever.

Prater will replace last year’s kicker and former Arizona State Sun Devil Zane Gonzalez. The Cardinals released Gonzalez in early March. He missed the final four games of the year due to a back injury and before that went 16-of-22 on field goals.

Gonzalez was shaky in the 40- to 49-yard range, making 8 of 13 attempts and costing Arizona multiple opportunities to walk away with wins in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Sixteen-year veteran Mike Nugent replaced Gonzalez and knocked in 7 of 8 field goals during the final quarter of the season.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

18 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

21 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals sign kicker Matt Prater to 2-year deal