Tag: Blankenship

May 24, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans line backer Kamu Grugier-Hill (51) plays catch with another teammate during organized team activities at the Houston Texans practice field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals sign veteran LB Kamu Grugier-Hill

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals signed veteran linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship with an injury settlement on Wednesday.

Grugier-Hill, 28, posted 40 tackles in six starts this season with the Houston Texans, who granted his request for a release last week. He made the request after playing only 18 snaps in a Week 7 loss at Las Vegas.

A sixth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2016, Grugier-Hill has 274 tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 89 games (37 starts) with the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-19), Miami Dolphins (2020) and Texans (2021-22).

Grugier-Hill led Houston with a career-high 108 tackles in 2021.

Blankenship, 25, was waived for the second time this season. The Indianapolis Colts released him after he missed a 42-yard field goal in overtime in a season-opening 20-20 tie with the Houston Texans. He also sent two kickoffs out of bounds in that game

He appeared in two games for Arizona while Matt Prater was dealing with a hip injury. Blankenship made two field goals and two extra points in a 42-34 win against New Orleans in Week 7. With Prater back, he handled the kickoffs during Sunday’s 34-26 loss at Minnesota.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, U.S.; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marquise Brown (2) runs for a touchdown after a catch against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (2) during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Nfl Eagles At Cardinals

Cards put Marquise Brown on IR; Saints to start Andy Dalton

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals elevated kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to the active roster ahead of Thursday night’s game against New Orleans and placed two players on injured reserve, including wide receiver Marquise Brown.

Meanwhile, the Saints are reportedly going to start Andy Dalton over Jameis Winston, who will be the emergency quarterback against the Cardinals. Taysom Hill will back up Dalton, according to ESPN.

The Cardinals also put offensive lineman Just Pugh on IR with a torn ACL. He’s out for the season.

Brown (foot) will have to miss at least four games but it’s expected he’ll be out longer than that anyway, perhaps six weeks. Brown was injured on the final play of the game in last Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks. He suffered a small non-surgical fracture in his foot.

The elevation of Blankenship means Matt Prater will miss a third straight game with a hip injury. The Cardinals also elevated running back Corey Clement to the active roster. Starting RB James Conner (ribs) is a gametime decision.

The Cardinals also activated OL Cody Ford from IR and it’s possible he’ll be active against the Saints. Ford, 25, began the season on IR. He played in 38 games (29 starts) from 2019-21 with the Buffalo Bills, who traded him to the Cardinals on Aug. 22 for a 2023 fifth-round draft pick.

The Cardinals have also ruled out LB Dennis Gardeck (ankle), C Rodney Hudson (knee) and RB Darrel Williams (knee).

The Saints are also without a host of players for Thursday night. Guard Andrus Peat is considered week-to-week with a pectoral strain and has been ruled out against the Cardinals.

Also ruled out for the game are wide receivers Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) and tight end Adam Trautman (ankle)

Cornerback Paulson Adebo, tackle Calvin Throckmorton and defensive end Payton Turner are all questionable.

Additionally, the Saints cut wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, activated defensive back Alontae Taylor (knee) from injured reserve and elevated receiver Kevin White and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. from the practice squad ahead of Thursday’s game.

–Field Level Media

Aug 27, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts Rodrigo Blankenship (3) stretches on the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals sign K Rodrigo Blankenship to practice squad

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals added former Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship to their practice squad Tuesday.

The team also opened the practice window for guard Cody Ford, who is on injured reserve with an ankle injury, signed linebacker Blake Lynch to the practice squad and released wideout Stanley Berryhill from the same unit.

Blankenship provides insurance if Matt Prater (hip) is unable to go Thursday night when the Cardinals (2-4) host the New Orleans Saints (2-4).

The Colts released Blankenship after missing a 42-yard field goal in overtime in a season-opening 20-20 tie with the Houston Texans. He also sent two kickoffs out of bounds in that game.

Blankenship, 25, missed most of the 2021 season with an injury. He made 45 of 54 field-goal attempts (with a long of 53 yards) and 52 of 55 extra points in 22 games with the Colts from 2020-22.

Ford, 25, began the season on IR. He played in 38 games (29 starts) from 2019-21 with the Buffalo Bills, who traded him to the Cardinals on Aug. 22 for a 2023 fifth-round draft pick.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Isaac Yiadom (20) leaps after Indianapolis Colts place kicker Rodrigo Blankenship (3) misses a field goal attempt during overtime at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Colts waive K Rodrigo Blankenship after Week 1 miss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts are waiving kicker Rodrigo Blankenship following his overtime miss in Week 1, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

The Colts brought in at least two kickers on Tuesday to audition for the job, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Blankenship missed a 42-yard field goal attempt that would have given Indianapolis an overtime victory on Sunday against the Houston Texans. The Colts had to settle for a 20-20 tie against a team they beat 62-3 in two combined games in 2021.

The Colts auditioned Josh Lambo and Matthew Wright on Tuesday. Wright will not be signing with Colts, per the report. It’s not clear if the Colts brought in more kickers for tryouts.

Lambo kicked in three games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. He has made 87.1 percent of his FG attempts and 89.9 percent of his extra point attempts in parts of seven seasons with the Chargers (2015-16) and Jaguars.

Blankenship also sent two kickoffs out of bounds on Sunday.

“To Rod’s credit, as we’ve brought the heat and brought competition, every time we’ve done that, he’s kind of won those battles,” Colts coach Frank Reich said Monday. “That’s to his credit. That’s what we have to continue to evaluate. (General manager) Chris (Ballard) and I will sit down and have a long discussion about that tonight and see where we’re at.”

Blankenship, 25, missed most of the 2021 season with an injury. He made 11 of 14 FG attempts in five games and seven of eight PATs.

He has made 83.3 percent of his FG attempts (with a long of 53 yards) and 94.5 percent of his PATs since making his NFL debut with the Colts in 2020.

–Field Level Media