It appears the Steelers will be without their primary kicker for a bit longer. With Chris Boswell battling a groin injury, the Steelers are signing Matthew Wright off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
By signing Wright off Kansas City’s taxi squad, the Steelers must keep him on their 53-man roster for at least three weeks. That is a fairly good indicator of Boswell’s timeline. The eighth-year Pittsburgh kicker, who suffered the injury in Week 7 against the Dolphins and did not kick against the Eagles in Week 8, is believed to need a bit more time to recover, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
The Chiefs have kept Wright on their P-squad since using him as one of Harrison Butker‘s fill-in options earlier this season. The Jaguars’ primary kicker in 2021, Wright kicked in two games for the Chiefs during Butker’s absence. Following Justin Reid and Matt Ammendola as Butker replacement options, Wright was 3-for-4 on field goals — including a then-Arrowhead Stadium-record 59-yarder against the Raiders — and 8 of 8 on extra points during his Chiefs cameo.
Wright, 26, was 21-for-24 on field goals with the Jaguars last season. Transitioning to a new regime this offseason, Jacksonville waived Wright in May. Boswell signed a second Steelers extension this year. He is under contract through 2026.
Butker has kicked in three games since returning in Week 7 but has struggled, by his standards, since returning. The sixth-year Chief, who began his Kansas City career after being signed off Carolina’s practice squad, is 5-for-8 on field goals this season. Butker missed an extra point and a 47-yard field goal against the Titans. The Chiefs would have needed to promote Wright to their active roster to keep him. They will pass, and Wright is set to have another opportunity elsewhere.
Wright was decent just first time around in Pittsburgh: very accurate on his shorter field goals but he lacked leg strength, especially on his kickoffs. Glad to see he made a 59 yarder last season because maybe that means his leg strength has improved.
That 59-yarder was earlier this year, but I think you’re right about his leg strength improving! He had just 1 Touchback on 15 Kickoffs(57.9 KickOff Avg.Yardage) in his rookie season, then he had 6 Touchbacks on 31 Kickoffs(60.7 KOAvg) last season, and 10 Touchbacks on 13 Kickoffs(64.0 KOAvg) in his 2 games with the Chiefs this season!
I always say that the Pirates have done a masterful job of virtually destroying their fan base. I have to hand it to the Steelers, as they’ve at the very least killed interest here. Easily one of the worst teams in the league and that’s not changing soon
The Steelers season appears to be a Wright Off.