Week 8: Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland, who played at the University of Maryland, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Pro Football Player of the Week after kicking a career-long field goal and later booting a third game-winning kick in four games to lift the Cardinals to a 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday.

Out of football when the season started, Ryland was signed by the Cardinals to their practice squad on Oct. 2, as kicker Matt Prater dealt with an injury. Ryland subsequently was added to the active roster and in his season debut made a 35-yard field goal with 1 minute 40 seconds left, giving Arizona a 24-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Two weeks later, Ryland made a 32-yard field goal on the game’s final play as the Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Rams, 17-15, on Monday Night Football.

This week, after making a 57-yard field goal in the third quarter, Ryland again closed things out, nailing a 34-yard field goal as time expired to give Arizona a 28-27 win over the Miami Dolphins.

“Prime time player,” Cardinals Coach Jonathan Gannon said. “He does it in practice. We try to rattle him in practice and he’s got ice water in his veins right now.”

Gannon said that confidence has allowed the Cardinals to dictate the way they want to play in late-game situations, comfortable that Ryland will make any needed kicks.

It’s a great feeling for Ryland, who played as a graduate transfer at Maryland in 2022. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and was 16 of 25 on field goal attempts as a rookie, before getting cut at the end of training camp prior to this season.

Ryland then tried to stay in shape in case an opportunity arose, including spending a week working out at Maryland.