Carolina Panthers sign kicker Matthew Wright

It has been a long season for the Carolina Panthers. However, there is still one more game to be played in their 2023-2024 campaign, which is why they made a roster move ahead of their NFC South showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Tuesday, the Carolina Panthers announced they are signing kicker Matthew Wright.

For Panthers fans unfamiliar with Wright, the fifth-year NFL kicker is a part of NFL and college football lore. In college, the Lancaster, PA native was a two-time second-team All-AAC team award recipient. Wright was also the kicker for the 2017 UCF Knights team. That year, UCF went undefeated and declared themselves national champions following their perfect 13-0, which included a season under then-head coach Scott Frost. In the NFL, Wright’s leg helped the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-game losing streak. Prior to his 53-yard game-winning field goal against the Miami Dolphins on October 17, the Jaguars had not won an NFL game since September 13, 2020.

NFL fines Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 for throwing drink on Jaguars fan

The NFL has fined Carolina Panthers (2-14) owner David Tepper $300,000 for his “unacceptable conduct” during the 26-0 Week 17 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) Sunday at EverBank Stadium, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Tepper was videoed throwing a drink on a Jaguars fan out of the window of the suite he was in.

“I am deeply passionate about this team and regret my behavior on Sunday,” Tepper said in a statement. “Should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose. I respect the NFL’s code of conduct and accept the League’s discipline for my behavior.”

The incident appeared to occur after quarterback Bryce Young threw an interception late in the fourth quarter. Minutes later, Carolina was shut out for the first time since 2002. The Panthers solidified having the worst record in the NFL this season, though they don’t own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That, of course, belongs to the Chicago Bears (7-9), who acquired Carolina’s 2024 pick in a trade this past March.

Tepper made the deal to draft Young, confident that the former Alabama standout and Heisman Trophy winner would lead the franchise to multiple Super Bowls. And yet, Carolina feels further than ever from hoisting a Lombardi Trophy. As he wraps up his rookie campaign, the jury remains out on Young. In 15 games, he’s thrown for 2,783 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 59.7% passing. He has been under duress often, sacked 59 times for a league-leading 451 yards.