Who is Commanders kicker? Why Matthew Wright is filling in for Matt Gay

The Washington Commanders will be without their primary kicking specialist when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football."

Matt Gay, who has started each of Washington's first seven games, was ruled out of the Commanders' Week 8 slate with a back injury. The 31-year-old was a surprise addition to Washington's injury report late Saturday afternoon. And although he was initially ruled as questionable to participate in Monday's fixture, the issue proved too daunting for him to overcome.

In his place steps a veteran marksman who has already played for a half a dozen NFL teams at the tender age of 29. While he's far from a household name in NFL circles, he did play a minor role in a Super Bowl run.

Here's what you need to know about Matthew Wright.

LIVE: Chiefs, Commanders meet on 'Monday Night Football'

Who is Commanders kicker?

With Matt Gay on the mend, the Commanders are enlisting Matthew Wright to head its kicking unit in Week 8.

Who is Matthew Wright?

Wright, 29, spent much of the month on the Tennessee Titans' practice squad. He is a six-year NFL veteran, having kicked for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers in addition to the Titans.

A UCF alum, Wright made his NFL debut in 2020. He has yet to land a long-term gig, save for a 14-game spell in Jacksonville in 2021. Nevertheless, he has sank 55-of-63 field goal attempts thus far, good for an 87.3% success rate.

MORE: Adrian Peterson's timeline of trouble, from child abuse case to DWI arrest

Prior to his time in the NFL, Wright worked as an engineer for Lockheed Martin, "the world's largest military company", per The American Friends Service Committee. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin has long supplied the U.S. and its allies with weaponry and equipment.

He left the company in 2021 after starting his NFL career.

What happened to Matt Gay?

After participating in practice on Thursday and Friday, Gay was listed as questionable on Washington's injury report on Saturday afternoon. The Commanders reported that he was felled by a back injury which kept him from taking part in Saturday's practice.

It's unclear when or how Gay sustained the injury. But the ailment was serious enough for Gay to be ruled as out for Monday night's contest.