PITTSBURGH — After returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, kicker Matthew Wright made two of his four field goal attempts and converted both of his extra point tries in the team’s 20-10 win over New Orleans Sunday.
Wright made a pair of field goals from 33 yards out, but pushed the others — from 39 and 48 — wide left.
He had played in two games for the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the campaign, splitting the uprights on three of four field goals and making all eight of his PATs.
After the victory, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked about what he’d liked from what he’d seen from Wright in the past, prompting him to bring him in earlier in the week.
“We’ve had success with him,” Tomlin said. “He left here and had continual success within the league … He’s been successful this year in the league, so we were really comfortable with that information, not only in terms of what he’s done in the National Football League, but what he’s done here with us. it wasn’t a long or significant discussion.”
Wright replaced Nick Sciba as the Steelers’ kicker after the bye week, while Chris Boswell was placed on the injured reserve with a groin injury hours after Wright was added.
Boswell is required to sit out for another three weeks, at least, which makes for an interesting situation at the position going forward. Wright’s misses didn’t cost the Steelers against the Saints, but it will be something to keep an eye on. The Steelers must keep Wright for at least two more games, because they signed him from the Kansas City practice squad.
Entering the day, Wright had connected on 87.5% of his 32 field goal tries and had gone 11-of-15 from 40 yards or longer.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.