NFL Player News
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Matt Prater K | BUF
Cardinals' Matt Prater: Misses practice Tuesday
Prater (hip) was listed as a non-participant on Tuesday's practice report, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Prater's sore right hip kept him from logging any practice activity for the second straight day, but Arizona isn't yet ruling him out for Thursday's game against the Saints. That said, Arizona signed Rodrigo Blankenship to its practice squad Tuesday, and he would be in line to handle kicking duties if the Cardinals determine that Prater will miss a third straight game. Matt Ammendola served as Arizona's kicker the previous two weeks but was waived after missing two kicks during that time.
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Tyler Bass K | BUF
Bills' Tyler Bass: Perfect in big win
Bass made his only field-goal try -- a 39-yarder -- and all three of his extra-point attempts in Sunday's 24-20 win over the Chiefs.
While the volume wasn't high, as the Bills got into the end zone three times and also had both a red-zone turnover and a red-zone drive end on downs, Bass was perfect on the day, a level he's been close to all season. The third-year kicker has missed two of 11 field-goal attempts and is a perfect 21-for-21 on extra points, something he hasn't missed on during the past two regular seasons. Bass currently sits sixth in the NFL in kicker scoring with 48 points.
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Rodrigo Blankenship K | TB
Rodrigo Blankenship: Signs to practice squad
Blankenship signed with the Cardinals' practice squad Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Blankenship had a rocky season debut with the Colts in Week 1, missing a potential game-winning kick in overtime, while also sending two kickoffs out of bounds for penalties, which lead to him getting cut. However, with Matt Ammendola being let go Monday by the Cardinals and Matt Prater (hip) still questionable for Thursday's content with the Saints, Blankenship could get a chance at redemption.
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Justin Tucker K | BAL
Ravens' Justin Tucker: Misses field goal in loss
Tucker went 2-for-3 on field goals and added two extra points in Sunday's loss to the Giants.
Tucker was off the mark on a 50-yarder for the first time all season as the attempt clanged off the upright. He converted all of his other attempts, however, and is now 11-for-12 on field goals and 17-for-18 on extra points this season. Tucker and the Ravens return home to face the Browns on Sunday.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Chargers' Dustin Hopkins: PIcks up injury in win
Hopkins (hamstring) said he felt "a pop" in his leg after his first kicking attempt in Monday's 19-16 overtime win against Denver, but he managed to play through the issue for the remainder of the contest, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Hopkins came into this game without an injury designation after missing last week's win against the Browns with a quadriceps injury, which also limited him in practice last Thursday and Friday. The 31-year-old temporarily exited Monday with a hamstring issue in the second quarter before returning to convert a 37-yard field goal with less than one minute remaining in the first half, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Hopkins also appeared to be in considerable pain on his three remaining field-goal tries, though he still hit a 39-yard game winner in overtime. While the exact nature and severity of this new issue still are unclear, the veteran now will have a slightly shorter week to recover before Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
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Wil Lutz K | DEN
Saints' Wil Lutz: Converts six attempts in loss
Lutz went 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts and 2-for-2 on point-after tries during Sunday's 30-26 loss to the Bengals.
All four of Lutz's made field goals came on attempts between 30 to 39 yards, as the Saints' offense struggled in the red zone with starting wideouts Michael Thomas (foot), Jarvis Landry (ankle) and Chris Olave (concussion) all sidelined. The sixth-year kicker has now made nine of his 13 field-goal tries and all 12 of his PATs this season. Lutz could see fewer short field-goal attempts if New Orleans' wide receiver corps returns to full strength for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
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Eddy Pineiro K | SF
Panthers' Eddy Pineiro: Makes both kicks
Pineiro made his only field-goal attempt and extra-point try in Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Rams.
Pineiro converted from 42 yards on his lone field goal. However, with Carolina's offense struggling once again, limited opportunities restricted him to just four points for the second time in three weeks. As a result, his stock is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Week 7's matchup versus the Buccaneers.
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Jake Elliott K | PHI
Eagles' Jake Elliott: Returns with season-long kick
Elliott made both of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries in Sunday's win over the Cowboys.
Elliott showed no ill effects of the ankle injury that sent him to the sidelines in Week 5, converting all of his kicks. His 51-yard field goal in the middle of the second quarter was his longest kick of the year. The Eagles' success in finding the end zone has meant they haven't needed to call his number too frequently this season, however, as he's still yet to attempt more than two field goals in a game.
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Matt Prater K | BUF
Cardinals' Matt Prater: Chance to play Week 7
Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday that Prater (hip) was not ruled out for Thursday's game versus the Saints, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Prater did not participate in Monday's estimated practice after sitting out Arizona's last two games with right hip soreness. However, the 38-year-old may be nearing a return in Week 7, as the Cardinals also cut fill-in kicker Matt Ammendola on Monday. Prater made all 10 of his kicking attempts through the first four games of the season, though he did not attempt a field goal until Week 3. Now, with DeAndre Hopkins set to return from suspension and with the trade acquisition of Robbie Anderson, Prater could see more scoring opportunities in Arizona's offense moving forward.
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Matt Prater K | BUF
Cardinals' Matt Prater: Logs DNP
Prater (hip) was a non-participant on the Cardinals' estimated practice report Monday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Prater has missed the last two weeks due to the injury, and although he was an estimated DNP, the team cut Matt Ammendola on Monday, who had been his replacement during his pair of absences. Therefore, it seems the Cardinals believe Prater will be available Thursday when they host the Saints, especially since they haven't signed another kicker yet.