TEMPE, Ariz. – When Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said last week that he wanted to see one of his punters separate himself from the other in a battle to make Arizona’s 53-man roster, he probably didn’t envision a near-tie between Richie Leone and Matt Wile after four games.
Each has kicked eight punts starting with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3. Their averages are separated by just 5 yards.
Leone, the former Canadian Football League punter, is averaging 48.4 yards per punt, while Wile is averaging 43.5 yards. Wile leads Leone in kicks downed inside the 20, by 3-2.
While the competition will go down to the final game of the preseason because the NFL has done away with first cuts, which forced teams to reduce their roster from 90 to 75, and usually included the elimination of one punter, there isn’t a clear victor just yet.
Some separation may have been made by Leone on Saturday night in Atlanta if stats are evaluated. He had two punts for 102 yards – an average of 51 yards – and While averaged 42.5 yards on his two punts. Both had kicks inside the 20, but Leone had a longer long, 55 yards compared to Wile’s 49.
Both punters have two more days of practice and one last game, Thursday night in Denver, to win over Arians. By Saturday, Leone and Wile will know their fate.
Arians could throw a changeup and release both and sign a punter off the street. But whether that’s necessary is still yet to be determined.
