The Kansas City Chiefs have found a new temporary kicker with the signing of Matthew Wright to replace Matt Ammendola.
The Kansas City Chiefs started the work week with a move to improve their special teams options, specifically with the release of Matt Ammendola. On Tuesday, they signed Matthew Wright as his replacement to be the team’s temporary kicker, per NFL reporter Field Yates.
Wright is a 26-year-old kicker who spent his college days at Central Florida before going undrafted in 2019. He got his first pro opportunity with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who signed him as a rookie free agent. He spent parts of 2019-20 with the Steelers on their practice squad and was even promoted to the active roster to be a kicker late in the season.
In 2021, Wright found meaningful work with the Jacksonville Jaguars as their primary kicker. He was even named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week last September for kicking multiple 50-plus-yard field goals in a win over the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately for Wright, the Jags decided to release him last May.
Wright has converted 25 of 28 career field goal attempts and 13 of 15 extra point attempts in parts of two NFL seasons to date.
The Chiefs are hoping Wright fares better than Ammendola after watching their special teams units fall apart against the Indianapolis Colts in a shocking Week 3 loss. Then again, the ultimate hope is that the team gets back Harrison Butker sooner than later from an ankle injury that has plagued him since Week 1.