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The Raiders continue the free agency splurge, adding a kicker to the influx of new names in Las Vegas. Matt Gay kicked for both the Commanders and 49ers last season, making 17-of-23 field goals and all 26 extra points. The 31-year-old will replace Daniel Carlson as the Raiders’ starting kicker heading into the offseason.

Gay made four field goals and four extra points without missing a kick in two games for the 49ers. But starter Eddy Pinero is healthy enough to be active again, and so the 49ers will move on. Gay joins the workout kicker circuit again and figures to get a third opportunity at some point in the last month of the season.

Eddy Piñeiro suffered a hamstring injury in Week 11 and is expected to miss some time. Gay will take his place in the lineup for now. The Commanders cut Gay on Monday after he missed two field goals versus Miami. Gay has missed six field goals on 19 attempts this year. All but one of his misses have come from 50 yards out, so the 49ers may only send him onto the field for short kicks.

Gay was already on the hot seat entering Week 11’s game against the Dolphins. The veteran kicker has gone 9-for-10 on field goal attempts inside of 50 yards this season, but is just 4-for-9 on kicks of 50-plus yards this season. His two missed field goals in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins were the final straw, with his last miss coming on a wide right attempt from 55 yards out that had plenty of distance to get through. Gay signed a one-year contract with the Commanders this offseason after spending the last two years with the Colts. With the Commanders now entering their bye week, we would expect them to bring on a handful of players to compete for the kicking job ahead of Week 13.

He has re-assumed kicking duties after missing last week’s game against the Chiefs due to a back injury. Matthew Wright was released earlier this week.

This move was expected after the Commanders signed K Matthew Wright to the practice squad and then elevated him to the roster for Monday night’s game. Any fantasy managers who have Gay in their lineup can pivot to Wright in hopes of avoiding a goose egg in the kicker slot. Wright has converted 87.5 percent of his field goals in his career and is 42-of-44 on extra points.

Matt Gay was a late addition to the Commanders’ injury report after suffering a back injury on Friday. The decision to elevate Wright ahead of Monday night’s game against the Chiefs suggests Gay could be sidelined for Week 8, putting any fantasy managers who may be counting on him in a tough spot. If Gay is unable to go, Wright becomes the plug-and-play option you can rely on in a pinch.

Gay will kick for his fourth team since entering the NFL in 2019. He was released by the Colts in early April after making 82 percent of his field goal tries over two seasons with Indy. Gay has been a solid kicker for much of his NFL career, though he has struggled from distance, converting just 61 percent of his field goal tries of more than 50 yards over six seasons. Attached to a high-powered Commanders offense, Gay could have fantasy upside in 2025. Washington had the league’s fourth most field-goal attempts (42) last season.

Gay, who signed as a free agent in 2023, made 64-of-78 field goals (82.1 percent) and 68-of-69 PATs (98.6 percent) in 33 games with the Colts. The six-year veteran was a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 with the Rams, helping his team win a Super Bowl that season. The move leaves the Colts with Spencer Shrader as the lone kicker on their roster. Per Over the Cap, the move creates $2.75 million in cap space for the Colts.

Gay missed the first two practices of the week but was upgraded to a full practice on Friday. He should be good to go for Week 16. The fact that the Colts haven’t added a kicker to their practice squad all but confirms this.

The veteran kicker is worryingly listed with a neck issue on Wednesday’s injury report. While it may not impact his kicking, concerns for his overall health are warranted. Fantasy managers should not count on Gay for Week 16.