Former Broncos kicker Matt Prater was officially reinstated from his suspension by the NFL commissioner’s office at 2 p.m. Tuesday. By 6:30, Prater was unemployed no more.
Prater won an audition among fellow veteran kickers Connor Barth and Jay Feely to sign with the kicking-desperate Detroit Lions. Prater received a one-year deal. He was expected to receive a salary close to the minimum of $870,000 for seventh-year players.
The Lions, 3-2, had used two kickers this year, Nate Freese and Alex Henery. They were a combined 0-of-6 from the 40- to 49-yard range, 4-of-12 overall.
The team brought in Feely and Barth, who worked out early Tuesday, while Prater waited at a hotel near Allen Park, Mich., until he received clearance from the NFL office.
Prater, 30, passed the audition, although his kicking résumé can trump any workout. He was a league-best 25-of-26 in field goals for the Broncos last season, including an NFL record-breaking 64-yard strike in 18 degree weather Dec. 8 against Tennessee at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
However, Prater tested positive for alcohol during the offseason and because he was already in the league’s substance-abuse program from an earlier alcohol-related incident, he was slapped with a four-game suspension.
On Friday, the Broncos released Prater in lieu of his $2.117 million remaining salary and because the team had faith in first-year kicker Brandon McManus.
Prater didn’t wait long to find a job. He will kick Sunday when the Lions play at their NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings.
