The Kansas City Chiefs have long been trying to find diamonds in the rough who may or may not represent the 53-man roster once it’s all said and done. With an August 26 cutdown day fast approaching, the calculus changes.

Harrison Butker is one of the best kickers in league history and deserves his flowers. Regardless, he suffered through an injury in 2024 and now had to suffer through a summer with people thinking they could take his job.

That’s what makes this kicker decision at this level of professionalism, particularly when you conider the latest news.

Panthers have released veteran kicker Matthew Wright, per league source.
Rookie Ryan Fitzgerald has won the kicking competition.

— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 25, 2025

Former Chiefs K Matthew Wright Released by NFC Foe

As reported by Joe Person of The Athletic, kicker Matthew Wright has been released. That gives the starting job to rookie Ryan Fitzgerald in a surprising move, leaving the ex-Chiefs kicker out on the street.

No one expected this is to happen and it’s a surprising move, though Wright hadn’t done enough to earn a larger role. He hit a game-winning field goal in 2024 but didn’t win multiple games, suggesting that his efforts were only minor.

Butker is very clearly Kansas City’s beloved kicker for better or worse. Whether or not things work out isn’t relevant, particularly when you consider some of the other decisions that the front office has to make. Losing Wright isn’t a surprise and fans shouldn’t be upset about general manager Brett Veach’s decision.

Either way, it’s a surprise. Wright was a valuable addition and now that he’s gone, there isn’t a valuable asset behind Butker. It’s just him and with no Wright, there’s a reasonable chance that Kansas City loses a tight contest. That he was released by a pathetic franchise like the Carolina Panthers should say enough, but it may not. Wright couldn’t cut it here nor there, and he probably isn’t meant fot he NFL.