The San Francisco 49ers wasted no time in addressing their need for a kicker following Jake Moody’s ankle injury, securing a replacement in just two days.
On Tuesday, October 8, the 49ers signed veteran kicker Matthew Wright to a one-year deal to handle kicking duties for the next few weeks.
“The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed K Matthew Wright to a one-year deal,” the team’s website confirmed.
Moody had been performing exceptionally well this season, with 14 field goal attempts and 13 conversions. Unfortunately, a high ankle sprain during a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals has sidelined him.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided a brief update on Moody’s injury on October 7, but there was little clarity on how long Moody might be out.
“Jake Moody does have a high ankle sprain, expect time out and stuff, no update yet on that,” Shanahan explained.
Wright brings valuable experience and should be able to provide reliable service while Moody recovers.
Matthew Wright’s NFL Career
Wright debuted in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, where he was perfect, making 4-of-4 field goals and all 7 extra points.
In 2021, Wright joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, appearing in 14 games and making 21 of 24 field goal attempts. However, he did miss two extra points during that season.
In 2022, Wright served as an emergency kicker for both the Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, where he made 15 of 18 field goal attempts between the two teams.
Earlier in 2023, Wright had a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers, but missed his only field goal attempt in that appearance.
49ers Hosted Kicker Tryouts
In the same press conference where Moody’s injury was discussed, Shanahan confirmed the team was bringing in several kickers to try out for the job. This is a common approach when a team doesn’t have an immediate replacement ready.
“Yeah, I think we’ve got four guys coming in later today,” Shanahan said, noting that he didn’t yet know their names. “I know the team is working on it, finishing up this game and preparing for Seattle. So I think we’ve got four guys coming, but I didn’t get their names.”
However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter later revealed that five kickers actually tried out for the role, including Wright. The other candidates were Randy Bullock, Riley Patterson, Anders Carlson, and Matt Coghlin.
Wright’s ability to stand out among a competitive group of veteran kickers likely boosts his prospects in San Francisco.
