The Arizona Cardinals’ injury-plagued season has worsened as they continue their quest to return to the playoffs. On Tuesday, the team announced that they have placed two key players—kicker Matt Prater and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols—on injured reserve.
Prater’s Knee Injury Aidelines Him For At Least 4 Games
The loss of veteran kicker Matt Prater is a significant blow to the Cardinals’ special teams unit. A left knee issue now sidelines Prater, who was perfect on the season before his injury. Due to his knee injury, Prater missed the Cardinals’ previous two games. Despite logging limited practices last week, he was ultimately inactive for Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.
In Prater’s place, the Cardinals have signed Chad Ryland to the active roster. Elevated from the practice squad for the past two games, Ryland has performed admirably, converting 5 of 6 field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards. His lone miss was a blocked kick against the San Francisco 49ers, which special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers later attributed to a combination of a low kick from Ryland and poor protection up front.
The soonest Prater can return to the field is the Cardinals’ Week 12 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. This extended absence is a significant blow, as the 40-year-old kicker has been a reliable weapon for Arizona, surpassing the career 1,800-point plateau earlier this season.
Nichol’s Injury Further Depletes The Defensive Line
In addition to Prater’s injury, the Cardinals also placed defensive tackle Bilal Nichols on injured reserve. Nichols suffered a stinger in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Packers and did not return.
Nichols, who signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Cardinals in the offseason, has struggled to make a significant impact so far, with no sacks and just one tackle for loss in 174 snaps.
The loss of Nichols further depletes an already weak group along the Cardinals’ defensive line. The team’s other key offseason signing on the interior, Justin Jones, is also on injured reserve after tearing his triceps muscle.
With Nichols and Jones sidelined, the Cardinals will have to rely on a group that includes L.J. Collier, Roy Lopez, Dante Stills, Khyiris Tonga, and Naquan Jones. Rookie first-round pick Darius Robinson is nearing a return from a calf injury, but his activation remains uncertain.
Injury-Plagued Cardinals Facing Uphill Battle
Head coach Jonathan Gannon did not provide any further updates on the rest of the Cardinals’ injured players, including Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion), Kyzir White (knee), Evan Brown (ankle), Sean Murphy-Bunting (neck), and Joey Blount (hamstring). With the team set to play on Monday Night Football in Week 7, Gannon’s next media availability will be on Thursday.
The mounting injuries have been a significant challenge for the Cardinals, who are already 2-4 and struggling to keep pace in the competitive NFC West division. The loss of key contributors like Prater and Nichols will only make their path to the playoffs more arduous.
As the team prepares for their upcoming matchup against the division-leading Seattle Seahawks, the focus will be on getting healthy and finding ways to overcome these latest setbacks. The Cardinals’ ability to navigate this injury-plagued season could ultimately determine the trajectory of their 2024 campaign.
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