Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater is not done yet, signing with the Buffalo Bills for what will be his 20th season as a pro.
The signing was made with Bills starter Tyler Bass managing hip and groin injuries.
Prater appeared in just four games in his final season with the Cardinals in the 2024 season due to left knee soreness that placed him on injured reserve, and the success of replacement Chad Ryland led Arizona to move on from the 41-year-old.
Prater converted all six of his field goal attempts in 2024 with a long of 57 yards before heading to the IR.
In 51 games played for the Cardinals from 2021-24, Prater set the franchise record for made field goals of at least 50 yards with 22.
His 81 career field goals of more than 50 yards are an NFL record.
His first year with the Cardinals saw him connect on a booming 62-yard field goal, the longest in franchise history. Prater’s 30 field goals in 2021 came in tied for fourth in Arizona’s record books. He set a new team record in made field goals of at least 50 yards with seven.
He followed that up in 2023 with another 62-yarder while setting a Cardinals single-season record with nine made field goals of at least 50 yards.
Prior to his time in Arizona, Prater played for the Detroit Lions (2006, 2014-20), the Atlanta Falcons (2007) and Denver Broncos (2007-13).
He has the NFL’s third-longest field goal ever made (64 yards) from his time with the Broncos. Only Justin Tucker (66 yards) and Brandon Aubrey (65 yards) have made longer kicks.
Chad Ryland’s rise to become the Arizona Cardinals’ kicker
Ryland definitely made an impact last year when filling in for Prater, converting 28 of his 32 field goal attempts.
His body of work in 2024 also included knocking in a trio of game-winning field goals across a four-week span and a perfect 4-for-4 mark on 50-yard tries.
Ryland entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2023.
He was waived as part of final roster cuts last offseason before signing on with the Cardinals in October.
