NFL Player News

The Panthers could lose kicker Graham Gano to free agency this offseason, reports ESPN. 

Gano would like to return to Carolina, but the report said he will do what's best for his family financially. 

Nick Folk is coming off a career year -- he nailed 27 of 33 field goals -- and is set for free agency. But will the Jets pony up for him? ESPN notes the team typically does not extend rich deals to their kickers so it could mean he'll test the market. 

There are 12 teams with openings at kicker at this time.  

Several Broncos who were listed as probable on the injury report are active for the Super Bowl, including cornerbacks Tony Carter (shoulder) and Kayvon Webster (thumb), defensive tackles Terrance Knighton (knee) and Mitch Unrein (knee) and kicker Matt Prater (illness). All were able to practice fully last week.

Broncos kicker Matt Prater, who missed three straight practices last week with an illness, will practice Monday, reports the Denver Post. "Hopefully, in another day or two, I'll be back to normal," Prater said Sunday.

Prater described the illness as "some kind of flu or something."

Broncos kicker Matt Prater contracted a virus that caused him to miss three straight practices last week, but he is flying with the team to New Jersey and will play in the Super Bowl, reports the Denver Post.

The paper notes that the last time Prater visited MetLife Stadium, in Week 2, he had five of his eight kickoffs returned by the Giants. That was highly unusual for Prater, who led the league with 81 touchbacks. Denver's kickoff coverage unit has not had to make a tackle since Dec. 29 at Oakland.

An illness prevented Broncos placekicker Matt Prater from his third consecutive practice on Saturday. Prater was in the building, but was sent home, according to ESPN. The only other non-participant was defensive tackle Sione Fua (calf).

A knee injury that prevented Broncos defensive lineman Mitch Unrein from practicing Thursday had him limited on Friday. Also limited was running back Knowshon Moreno (rib).

Placekicker Matt Prater (illness) and defensive lineman Sione Fua (calf) were out.

Broncos placekicker Matt Prater, who booted four field goals in the AFC title game win over New England, missed Thursday practice with an illness.

Broncos kicker Matt Prater nailed all four of his field-goal tries in the AFC Championship Game victory, including a 54-yarder that would have been good from at least 60. Prater went 6 of 7 from 50-plus yards during the regular season.

Sunday he added two PATs for a 14-point outing. Prater faces the Seahawks or 49ers in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Broncos kicker Matt Prater converted a 45-yard field goal but missed from 47 yards, his second miss in 28 tries this season, in the win over San Diego. Prater added three PATs for a six-point outing. He'll play the Patriots in next Sunday's AFC Championship Game.