Rishard Matthews

Rishard Andre Matthews[1] (born October 12, 1989) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for the University of Nevada, and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets.

Rishard Matthews
Matthews with the Dolphins in 2014
No. 18, 86, 82, 12
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1989-10-12) October 12, 1989
Santa Ana, California
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Santa Ana (CA) Saddleback
College:Nevada
NFL Draft:2012 / Round: 7 / Pick: 227
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-WAC (2011)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:230
Receiving yards:3,160
Receiving touchdowns:21
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life

Matthews was born on October 12, 1989 in Santa Ana, California. He attended Saddleback High School and lettered for the basketball team, averaging 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.3 blocks and 2.3 steals. In addition, he played for the football team.[2]

College career

Matthews initially signed a letter of intent committing to the University of Oregon.[3] Matthews attended Bakersfield College before transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno.[4] In his two years catching passes from Colin Kaepernick at Nevada, he had 147 receptions for 2,243 yards and 13 touchdowns.[5] While at Nevada, Matthews was named second-team all-WAC as a wide receiver.[6]

Professional career

Matthews was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round with the 227th overall selection of the 2012 NFL Draft.[7]

Miami Dolphins
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 3⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 217 lb
(98 kg)		 32 1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9 1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.62 s 4.19 s 6.88 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 20 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8]

2012 season: Rookie year

Matthews recorded his first reception in a 19–14 losing effort against the Buffalo Bills on November 15. He finished the Thursday Night Football game with one catch for 19 yards.[9] Overall, he finished his rookie season with 11 receptions for 151 receiving yards.[10]

2013 season

Matthews was one of only four receivers to make the final 53-man roster in 2013. This was crucial after seeing Dustin Keller go down in a preseason game against the Houston Texans.[11] Matthews was a second-year player adding to the likes of Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Brandon Gibson. Matthews had his first two-touchdown game in another losing effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 11, 2013. He finished the Monday Night Football game with 120 yards on 11 receptions.[12] After Miami's Brandon Gibson went down in Week 11, Matthews has received a large increase in targets and a number of starts. Matthews proved to be a reliable target, specifically in the Miami win against the New England Patriots on December 15, 2013. Matthews caught a 24-yard reception to keep the drive alive in the 24–20 upset.[13] The 2013 season came to an end with Matthews contributing 41 receptions for 448 yards and 2 touchdowns.[14]

2014 season

The 2014 campaign was a lackluster performance for Matthews, who had emerged in 2013 as a reliable target, with the season ending prematurely for Matthews when off-field conduct resulted in his suspension for the final game against the New York Jets.[15] While Matthews had shown promise, he finished the 2014 season with 12 catches on 21 targets for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns.[16]

2015 season

In Week 7, against the Houston Texans, Matthews reeled in a then career-high 53-yard receiving touchdown in the first quarter of the 44–26 victory.[17] On November 30, 2015, Matthews suffered multiple fractured ribs in the Miami Dolphins' Week 12 loss to the New York Jets.[18] On January 2, 2016, Matthews was placed on injured reserve.[19] Overall, in the 2015 season, he finished with 43 receptions for 662 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[20]

2016 season

On March 9, 2016, Matthews signed a three-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.[21] In his first season with the Titans, he set a career-high in receiving yards with 945 and with 9 receiving touchdowns.[22] He led the Titans in both receiving yards and touchdowns.[23]

2017 season

On September 24, 2017, Matthews scored a 55-yard touchdown during the Titans' 33–27 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.[24] On November 16, 2017, he scored a 75-yard touchdown as the Titans lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 40–17.[25] Overall, he finished the 2017 season with 53 receptions for 795 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[26]

2018 season

On August 21, 2018, Matthews signed a one-year contract extension with the Titans through the 2019 season.[27] On September 26, Matthews requested his release from the Titans, citing a lack of playing time and targets. The team granted his request the next day and released him.[28] Matthews finished with his time with the Titans with a total of 121 receptions, 1,751 receiving yards, and 13 receiving touchdowns.

New York Jets

On October 23, 2018, Matthews signed with the New York Jets.[29] He played in five games recording just two catches for 13 yards before being placed on injured reserve on December 18, 2018.[30]

New Orleans Saints

On June 13, 2019, Matthews signed with the New Orleans Saints.[31] He was released on August 10, 2019 after leaving camp.[32]

Retirement

On August 12, 2019, Matthews announced his retirement from the NFL.[33]

Regular season
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFUMLost
2012MIA 811115113.73000000000
2013MIA 1654144810.92920000000
2014MIA 1401213511.3232133.03010
2015MIA 11114366215.453T4144.04000
2016TEN 1696594514.56090000011
2017TEN 14115379515.075T41-3-3.0-3000
2018TEN 303113.340000.00000
NYJ 502136.570000.00000
Total87382303,16013.875T21341.34021

Postseason
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFUMLost
2017TEN 2244210.5150--------------
Total2244210.5150--------------

Personal life

Matthews's father, Andre Matthews, and half-brother, Christopher Ruiz, served in the Marines. Ruiz was killed in a plane crash in 2015 while working as a private defense contractor in Afghanistan.[34]

References
  1. "ESPN Profile". ESPN.com.
  2. Mori, Anthony. "Former Wolf Pack football star looking to improve after breakout season". Elko Daily Free Press. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  3. "Rivals.com". sports.yahoo.com.
  4. "Local report: BC receiver Matthews signs with Nevada". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. "Rishard Matthews College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  6. Mori, Anthony. "Former Wolf Pack football star looking to improve after breakout season". Elko Daily Free Press. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  7. "2012 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  8. "Rishard Matthews Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  9. "Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - November 15th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. "Rishard Matthews 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  11. "Miami's Dustin Keller suffers season-ending knee injuries against Texans". SI.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  12. "Miami Dolphins' Rishard Matthews enjoys breakout game after recent move to slot receiver". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  13. "New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins - December 15th, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  14. "Rishard Matthews 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  15. Salguero, Armando. "Rishard Matthews turns bad history into positive future with Miami Dolphins". Miami Herald. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  16. "Rishard Matthews 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  17. "When Dolphins attack: Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews score long TDs". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  18. "Report: Matthews fractured multiple ribs vs. Jets". SI.com. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  19. "Dolphins' Rishard Matthews: Placed on IR - CBSSports.com". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  20. "Rishard Matthews 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  21. "Titans Agree to Terms with WR Rishard Matthews". TitansOnline.com. March 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017.
  22. "Rishard Matthews 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  23. "2016 Tennessee Titans Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  24. "Rishard Matthews scores Tennessee Titans touchdown on 55-yard catch-and-run". 24/7 Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  25. Leadingham, Joe (November 17, 2017). "Titans win streak ends with 40-17 loss to Steelers". WKRN. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  26. "Rishard Matthews 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  27. Patra, Kevin (August 21, 2018). "Titans, Rishard Matthews agree to one-year extension". NFL.com.
  28. Patra, Kevin (September 27, 2018). "Titans granting receiver Rishard Matthews his release". NFL.com.
  29. Allen, Eric (October 23, 2018). "Jets Sign WR Rishard Matthews, Place S Doug Middleton on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
  30. Allen, Eric (December 18, 2018). "Jets Place WR Rishard Matthews on Injured Reserve, Sign T Eric Smith". NewYorkJets.com.
  31. Reardon, Logan (June 13, 2019). "Saints sign Rishard Matthews after minicamp tryout". NFL.com.
  32. Gantt, Darin (August 10, 2019). "Saints release Rishard Matthews after he left team". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  33. Patra, Kevin (August 12, 2019). "Rishard Matthews announces NFL retirement". NFL.com.
  34. "Titans' Rishard Matthews, whose brother died in Afghanistan, honored with American flag". Tennessean.com. August 28, 2017.
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