The Kansas City Chiefs have a new backup kicker.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chiefs intend to sign former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad. This move comes a day after the team released Matt Ammendola, who struggled in the Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, missing an extra point and field goal.
Wright spent 14 games with the Jaguars in 2021, making 21-of-24 field goals and 13-of-15 extra points attempted. He kicked three games for the Steelers in 2020, where he was perfect on field goals and extra points.
One concern with this signing is that Wright might not have the greatest distance on kickoffs. He has 46 career kickoffs and just seven career touchbacks.
The Chiefs are signing former Jaguars K Matthew Wright to their practice squad, per source.
He replaces Matt Ammendola as the insurance to Harrison Butker, who has missed the past two games due to an ankle injury.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 27, 2022
Chiefs starting kicker Harrison Butker has been dealing with a significant ankle sprain that has kept him out of the past two games. It’s unclear whether he’ll be available to play on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 4, but this move would at least suggest that there is at least a chance that Butker won’t be ready to play. In that case, expect the team to elevate Wright to the 53-man roster ahead of the Week 4 game.
With the team also signing Cortez Broughton to the practice squad, this transaction brings the Chiefs to a full 16-man practice squad again.