Matthew Wright re-joins Steelers with stronger, more proven leg than 2019 rookie stint

Matthew Wright’s first stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers was fresh out of college in 2019. Given Chris Boswell’s struggles the year before, it was reasonable to believe coach Mike Tomlin was genuine when he said the kicker job that season was an open competition.

Boswell reverted to form, allowing him to keep his longtime gig, but what was apparent to even the most casual observer at training camp that summer was that Wright’s leg strength lagged well behind that of Boswell, who now is in his eighth NFL season.

Three-and-a-half years later, Wright is back for a third stint with the Steelers. And that alleged lack of leg strength? It’s no longer in question.

In his most recent NFL outing, Wright booted a 59-yard field goal for the Kansas City Chiefs, setting a franchise record during a win against the Las Vegas Raiders. Wright is 5 for 7 in his career from 50 or more yards on field goals.

“I am not oblivious, I know what I need to work on,” Wright said after practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday, the day he was signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad to the Steelers’ 53-man roster. “I can look around the league and see where I am at in certain aspects. I knew what I needed to do and kept working at it.”

An all-time performance from the Chiefs crowd at Arrowhead tonight.

Loud applause and cheers after Matthew Wright’s 59-yard FG immediately back to booing the crap out of the refs.

A masterclass. pic.twitter.com/Cn4az0IGio

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) October 11, 2022

Wright said a kicker gains strength the same way any other player or athlete does: eating more, lifting weights, exercising with plyometrics.

“I just focused on it and really put in a lot of effort to being more explosive,” Wright said.

Wright was called upon because Boswell has a groin injury that kept him out of the Steelers’ most recent game, Oct. 30 at the Philadelphia Eagles. The idle week did not heal Boswell’s groin enough that he could practice Wednesday.

The Steelers released rookie Nick Sciba off the practice squad Tuesday and brought Wright back aboard — to the 53-man roster – Wednesday. NFL rules dictate that a player signed off another team’s practice squad must remain with the new team for three weeks. That suggests it’s possible Boswell is out for multiple games.

After his release from the Steelers in 2019, Wright had a failed XFL stint. But he filled in for an injured Boswell for three games in 2020. He became the Jacksonville Jaguars’ kicker four games into last season and made 34 of 39 kicks. Still, he was waived in the spring and sat unemployed until Kansas City signed Wright and ultimately tabbed him to fill in for an injured Harrison Butker for two games last month.

“Any time I get to kick a ball, I’m happy,” Wright said. “I just go out there, do what I do best and try to put the ball through the uprights. That’s all I can focus on.”

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