When the calendar flipped to October, Chad Ryland was sitting on the couch, waiting for his opportunity. He ends October as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
Ryland was signed to the Cardinals practice squad on Oct. 2. Once Matt Prater was placed on Injured Reserve with a left knee injury, Ryland was promoted to the 53-man roster. His first game was against the 49ers on Oct. 5.
The second-year kicker has three game-winning kicks in the last four games, including in back-to-back games against the Chargers and Dolphins. His first was in that first game against the 49ers.
He’s been a perfect 6-of-6 on extra points and 8-of-9 on field goal attempts. In Miami, Ryland nailed through a career-long 57-yard field goal.
“He’s a primetime player,” coach Jonathan Gannon said. “We try to rattle him in practice. He’s got ice water in his veins right now.”
