The Washington Commanders' loss to the Miami Dolphins was decided by razor-thin margins. As it turned out, the mistakes of one underperforming veteran were his last for the burgundy and gold.
Veteran kicker Matt Gay missed two field goals, which both went wide right. This has been a problematic trend even before he joined the Commanders, and general manager Adam Peters took drastic action.
Upon the Commanders' return to familiar surroundings after embracing Spanish culture, the club confirmed that Gay had been released. This was a costly error in judgment on Peters's part, but he at least recognized the need to start fresh during the bye.
Commanders release kicker Matt Gay after one bad game too many
Gay was snapped up quickly by the Commanders this offseason after the Indianapolis Colts parted ways with the one-time Pro Bowler. Interest in him was reportedly high, which meant Washington had to give him the most guaranteed money for a kicker on a one-year deal in NFL history to secure his services.
It wasn't all bad, but there were far too many mistakes. Gay is unreliable at longer distances, and his tendency to hit the ball right became an ongoing frustration. His field goal percentage of 68.4 is nothing short of abysmal, and although head coach Dan Quinn confirmed it was a difficult decision, the team comes first at all times.
"Really bummed that it didn't work out. … It was a hard one for sure. But at that position, the performance, got to have it."
Dan Quinn
Quinn is right. The life of a kicker is highly precarious. You have to make kicks, especially in crucial moments, or you're not going to last long. The Commanders placed a hefty wager that Gay could help stabilize the team, but it wasn't to be. And now, Washington will be scrambling for a new kicker during its long-awaited bye week.
Gay cut a dejected figure after Week 11's defeat. He placed the blame on himself, although several others should have borne responsibility. But kickers are typically the easiest to dispose of when things aren't going well.
What the future holds for Gay remains to be seen. Kickers could get a call at any moment, but his career is going down a worrying path. As for the Commanders? They are now searching for their eighth starting kicker in just under two seasons of the Peters-Quinn era.
Not exactly ideal, but the Commanders had to do something. And this is yet another problem Peters must solve with a long-term option when the 2026 offseason arrives.