Cardinals sign K Rodrigo Blankenship, designate OL Cody Ford to return

The Arizona Cardinals signed kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to the practice squad on Tuesday after releasing short-term kicker Matt Ammendola a day prior.

Arizona also designated offensive lineman Cody Ford (ankle) to return from the injured list, a positive sign and one much-needed after the team lost starting left guard Justin Pugh to an ACL injury on Sunday.

Ford can be activated to the roster within the next three weeks. He was acquired in mid-August for a fifth-round pick and immediately could slot in as a starter with Pugh’s season over.

On the practice squad, the Cardinals on Tuesday also signed linebacker Blake Lynch and released receiver Stanley Berryhill, a rookie who played for the Arizona Wildcats.

Blankenship, who could be a practice squad call-up if starting kicker Matt Prater’s hip injury does not resolve enough by Thursday, entered the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games, going 32-for-37 on field goals.

He’s appeared in just six games since, making 13-of-17 field goals in the past two seasons for the Colts.

Blankenship started this year with Indianapolis but in the season opener missed a game-winning opportunity from 42 yards out while also landing two kickoffs out of bounds for penalties. He was waived before Week 2.

For his career, Blankenship has gone: 14-of-14 from between 20-29 yards; 15-of-17 from 30-39 yards; 15-of-19 from 40-49 yards; and 1-of-4 from 50 or more yards.

Lynch appeared in 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings last year and four in 2020 as an undrafted rookie.

Over those two seasons, he has posted 47 tackles with two sacks, an interception, three passes defensed and a forced fumble, plus a fumble recovery.

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