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Rodrigo Blankenship joins Arizona Cardinals practice squad

By Jim Koch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: Rodrigo Blankenship #3 of Indianapolis Colts is seen during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 20: Rodrigo Blankenship #3 of Indianapolis Colts is seen during the game against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Cardinals have signed placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship to be the temporary replacement for an injured Matt Prater. 

Many fans of the Arizona Cardinals were bewildered last week with the way that the club handled the placekicking situation. Unreliable kicker Matt Ammendola was retained by the franchise, despite the fact that he shanked a crucial 43-yard field goal attempt during a Week 5 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On Tuesday, the Cards made a move to rectify the issue by signing Rodrigo Blankenship to the team’s practice squad. Matt Prater, the veteran who’s been out since Week 4 with a hip injury, could also miss this coming Thursday’s battle with the New Orleans Saints. Blankenship was basically acquired as insurance for the 38-year old Prater.

Ammendola was an obvious liability this past Sunday during Arizona’s 19-9 setback against the Seattle Seahawks. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury elected to go for it five times on fourth down, rather than allow the 25-year-old Ammendola to attempt some extremely-makeable field goals. The youngster’s stint with the organization finally came to an end on Monday when the front office handed the former Oklahoma State University product his walking papers.

Rodrigo Blankenship is more reliable for the Arizona Cardinals

Blankenship signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent back in April of 2020. The 6 foot 1, 184 pounder scored 139 points as a rookie, hitting on 32 of his 37 FG tries and 43 of his 45 PAT attempts for the Colts.

The following season, Blankenship appeared in just five matchups for Indianapolis because of a hip injury. The former University of Georgia product made good on 11 of his 14 field-goal attempts, and 7 of his 8 extra-point tries in 2021.

Blankenship started the current campaign with the Colts, but was released after appearing in just one contest. The 25-year-old shanked a potential game-winning FG from 42 yards out during Indy’s 20-20 tie with the Houston Texans. Blankenship was apparently on a short leash, and was sent packing two days after that matchup.

Related Story. Ammendola was a poor choice for Cardinals. light

It took him two separate workouts, but Blankenship has finally landed a job with the Redbirds. Prater’s health will dictate whether the glasses-wearing placekicker will be given an opportunity to show the Cardinals what he can do.

(Statistics provided by Pro Football Reference)

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