Five hours before kickoff, the Commanders ruled out their kicker, Matt Gay, and signed Matthew Wright to the practice squad and elevated him to the active roster for tonight’s game. Five hours.
Gay was added to the Commanders’ lengthy injury report on Friday with a back issue and listed as questionable. He traveled with the team on Saturday, but Washington also flew out Wright to Kansas City as a contingency plan, according to two league sources.
Wright has been somewhat of a hired gun the last two seasons, making the rounds across the league. His career so far:
Pittsburgh Steelers (2019)*XFL – Tampa Bay Vipers (2020)*Pittsburgh Steelers (2020)Detroit Lions (2021)*Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)Kansas City Chiefs (2022)Pittsburgh Steelers (2022)Kansas City Chiefs (2022)Carolina Panthers (2023)*San Francisco 49ers (2023)*Atlanta Falcons (2023)*New England Patriots (2023)*Carolina Panthers (2023)Pittsburgh Steelers (2024)*San Francisco 49ers (2024)Kansas City Chiefs (2024)Tennessee Titans (2024)Carolina Panthers (2025)*Tennessee Titans (2025)*Washington Commanders (2025)*
(*offseason or practice squad)
Despite having limited reps at most of his NFL stops, Wright has made 87.5 percent of his field-goal attempts and 95.5 percent of his extra-point attempts. He’s hit 63.6 percent from 50 yards out (7-of-11).
Washington has dealt with a string of injuries across the roster this season and could also be without defensive tackle defensive tackle Daron Payne tonight. He missed practice all week and was listed as questionable because of a toe injury. Defensive tackle Sheldon Day was elevated from the practice squad and wide receiver Robbie Chosen — who was essentially the Commanders’ fourth receiver against the Cowboys last week, catching four passes for 36 yards in 33 snaps — was released.