Panthers add kicker as Carolina monitors Eddy Piñeiro injury, waives lineman to make room
The Panthers have a bit of a situation at kicker as the team prepares to host the New York Jets at Wofford College.
With starting kicker Eddy Piñeiro dealing with a groin injury, the Panthers signed veteran kicker Matthew Wright to a contract, the team announced Tuesday. To make room for Wright, the Panthers waived rookie offensive tackle B.J. Wilson, who was signed in May during the offseason program.
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Wright has appeared in 23 NFL games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. The 27-year-old specialist has made 40 of 46 field-goal attempts (87%) and 35 of 37 extra-point attempts (94.6%) during his career.
Last season, Wright connected on 12 of 14 field-goal attempts (85.7%) in a split season with the Chiefs and Steelers.
The Panthers have listed Piñeiro as “questionable” for Saturday’s preseason opener at Bank of America Stadium against the Jets. The signing of Wright will allow the Panthers the opportunity to slow play Piñeiro’s injury timeline.
The Wright signing and the waiving of Wilson were the third and fourth roster moves of the day for the Panthers. Earlier on Tuesday, the Panthers signed pass rusher Justin Houston and waived rookie defensive lineman Jalen Redmond from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
The Panthers’ roster is at the 90-man limit.
More training camp reading at charlotteobserver.com:
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▪ Under-the-radar Panthers defender wants to ‘take up space’ to benefit his teammates
▪ For Panthers offense to get better, this player must come back. But he’s not ready yet
▪ He’s a huge Carolina Panthers fan and podcaster. He’s also an inspiration
▪ How Panthers lineman went from loading Amazon trucks to signing with hometown team
