The Kansas City Chiefs have been forced to sign another kicker after backup placekicker Spencer Shrader sustained an injury, leaving his availability uncertain for this week’s game.
Shrader was signed earlier this month to replace the injured Harrison Butker, who was placed on injured reserve. However, during the Chiefs’ recent game against the Carolina Panthers, in which Shrader made a game-winning field goal as time expired, he appeared to injure himself. He is now listed as questionable for the upcoming Black Friday matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
To ensure they have a reliable option, the Chiefs have signed veteran kicker Matthew Wright to a practice squad contract.
Wright, who entered the NFL in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Central Florida, has bounced between several teams, spending time on rosters and practice squads. He has had multiple stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and also the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and New England Patriots.
This marks Wright’s third stint with the Chiefs, having previously been with the team twice during the 2022 season, sandwiched between his time with the Steelers.
Over his NFL career, Wright has made 43 of 50 field goal attempts (an 86% success rate), with his longest kick being 59 yards.