ALLEN PARK -- Former Detroit Lions place kicker Matthew Wright is among the first wave of cuts by the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports.
Wright was among a wave of kickers who cycled through Detroit after Matt Prater left in 2021. He spent a few summer months with the team, but struggled in camp and was released. The Lions went on to go through four kickers that season, including Riley Patterson, who made 13-of-14 attempts before Detroit moved on from him too.
Patterson spent last season in Jacksonville, where he made 30 of 35 attempts with a long of 53 yards. Then Detroit traded a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to re-acquire Patterson this offseason. Patterson is believed to have won the starting kicker job over Parker Romo in camp, but did struggle in the preseason finale, missing a 53-yarder short and also pushing an extra-point attempt wide of the posts.