“They're gonna sign Justin Tucker.” “Another Adam Peters special”: NFL fans react as Commanders cut Matt Gay after 2 FG misses cost game vs. Dolphins

The Washington Commanders have parted ways with K Matt Gay. The team announced the release of the veteran kicker on Monday after he missed two field goals in the 16-13 overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. After being cut, Gay will now hit the waiver wire.

The Commanders brought in Gay in April, prompting the release of Zane Gonzalez. He inked a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with $4.35 million guaranteed. Then, he became the eighth kicker to sign for the team in 14 months, as they struggled to find the right fit for the role.

It was the sixth consecutive loss for the Washington Commanders as they dropped to a 3-8 record, but Matt Gay obviously had the opportunity to win it on Sunday. However, the team's coach made it known that the decision to release him wasn't about the Dolphins game.

“The performance, you’ve got to have it,” Quinn said of the decision to move on (via ESPN’s John Keim). “We wanted it to work long term with Matt. It wasn’t [about] one game.”

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Gay appeared in 10 games for the Commanders this season, converting 13 of 19 field-goal attempts. However, five of his six misses have come from 50+ yards, including the two on Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium. He converted four of nine field goal attempts from 50+ yards.

The release of Matt Gay by the Washington Commanders has generated a lot of reactions online. A lot of fans have been mocking the team as it continues to struggle in the kicking game. Here's a look at some of the reactions online:

The Commanders' kicking woes continue after Matt Gay's release

The Washington Commanders have cycled through several kickers since the start of last season. This has been the case due to multiple reasons, ranging from injuries to off-field problems. With Matt Gay's release, the team continues to find the right guy for the job.

The Commanders signed veteran Brandon McManus in March 2024, only to cut him two months later. This is after he faced a sexual-assault lawsuit from two flight attendants stemming from his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The case was ultimately dismissed.

Cade York began the 2024 season as the starting kicker but was cut after missing two field goals in the opener. Austin Seibert was brought in and stabilized the position, converting 27 of 30 attempts across nine games. However, he got injured and didn’t return to his best.

The Washington Commanders have also handed Zane Gonzalez and Greg Joseph the kicking duty last season. Looking ahead, the Commanders plan to bring in another kicker for the remainder of the season.

Edited by Farouk Yusuf