Chad Ryland is officially back for the Arizona Cardinals, signing a one-year deal, and honestly, this special teams group is shaping up with some wild quirks as training camp heats up. Usually, these “specialists” are the guys nobody talks about until they completely botch a play, but there’s some real head-scratching stuff going on in the desert right now.
Specialists: The Unsung Heroes (Until They Mess Up)
Let’s be real, nobody ever talks about special teams until something goes sideways, right? These guys are the ultimate specialists, often only doing one thing, but that one thing is absolutely critical. Think about it: back in the day, your punter was often your quarterback, the kicker was some huge offensive lineman, and your holder was the second-string QB. Long snappers? That was your starting center or maybe a tight end! Kickoff and punt returners were typically your speedy backup running backs or cornerbacks, guys with moves and great hands who could sprint. Rosters were tiny then, barely 33 players! But with 20 extra athletes on today’s 53-man roster, every NFL club can hire dedicated specialists. That includes the gunners on punt coverage, who are specialists themselves, even if they sometimes double up on offense or defense as a backup running back or safety. Kicker Chad Ryland’s return from the 2025 squad on a one-year deal brings back a familiar face, which might be a good thing, or just a sign of new coaches sticking with guys they know.
Gillikin’s Gutsy Return and the Unsettling Depth Chart
The real head-scratcher emerging from camp has got to be the punter spot. Blake Gillikin is back for the Cardinals on a one-year deal after season-ending back surgery last year. The dude kicked incredibly well with a 51.7 average before the injury, but here’s the kicker: the team hasn’t signed a second punter for training camp. That’s super weird, right? Every position usually has competition in camp, but Gillikin is flying solo. Over on the depth chart, we’ve got Gillikin at punter, with no backup listed. Ryland is the kicker, also with no backup. Casey Kreiter is the long snapper, again, no backup. Gillikin pulls double duty as the holder, with the backup slot TBD, likely with a backup QB. Devin Duvernay is locked in as the kickoff returner, backed up by Jalen Brooks and Xavier Weaver, and he’s also the punt returner, with Weaver and Michael Wilson behind him. Joey Blount is holding down one gunner spot, with the other TBD. It’s a group with few changes from 2025, and while some coaches, like Bill Belichick back in the day, had weird preferences for left-footed punters, claiming the ball spins differently, you’d still expect competition. Expect most of the roster to see special teams action, with offensive linemen often subbing in to block on punt teams, and some linebackers or defensive linemen also getting in on the blocking, especially on the edges.
With training camp in full swing, you gotta wonder what this lack of backup competition at key specialist spots actually means. Is it a sign of unwavering faith in these guys, or a gamble that could bite them later? For now, all eyes are on how this streamlined special teams unit gels before the real games start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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