He took responsibility for the Washington Commanders losing a sixth game in a row, but it hasn’t taken long for Matt Gay to land with a new team. The recently released Pro Bowl kicker and former Super Bowl winner has joined a rival from the NFC, one with legitimate playoff ambitions.
Gay signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, November 19. The move was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who reported the Niners added “Gay to their practice squad and released WR Russell Gage Jr. from their practice squad.”
It’s a chance for Gay to return to the form that made him a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ with the Los Angeles Rams back in 2021. His revival won’t concern the Commanders, though, after the Burgundy and Gold had already turned to former 49ers kicker Jake Moody, who has a checkered history with Washington wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Matt Gay Left Commanders On a Sour Note
The Commanders made the decision to cut Gay loose after the 31-year -old missed a pair of field goals in the Spanish capital. Although both kicks were over 50 yards, including an errant 61-yard attempt as time expired in regulation, Gay took responsibility for the defeat.
He told reporters after the game, including Schefter’s colleague John Keim, “this game is 100 percent on me.” Gay also said about his ill-fated final kick, “Got to make it. Cannot miss that kick. … That’s on me. We win that game if that kick goes in,” per Tom Schad of The Washington Post.
Although he fronted up like a true professional, Gay wasn’t solely at fault for the way things played out against the Dolphins. He was put in a tough spot, kicking from distance on a playing surface he was not familiar with, a surface not every player appreciated, with a veteran Commanders All-Pro speaking out about the turf at the Santiago Bernabéu.
The truth is a Commanders offense still missing star quarterback Jayden Daniels didn’t do enough to put Gay in a realistic position to win the game. That doesn’t explain away all of his struggles — Gay is 13 of 19 on field goals this season, per Pro Football Reference — but his problems were only one part of an overall malaise in Washington’s special teams.
Commanders Endured Special Teams Nightmare
Most of the focus recently has been on another of the Commanders’ three phases, after head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling for the defense. He’s been making changes on that side of the ball, including to a usually busy starter’s playing time, but Quinn can’t ignore what’s going wrong on special teams.
Gay missing two kicks wasn’t the only issue against Miami. A muffed punt by second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil also played a decisive role in taking momentum away from the Commanders.
Injuries forced Sainristil into an uncomfortable role once the Commanders were without receivers, rookie Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey. Finding competent alternatives in the return game will be a challenge for special teams coordinator Larry Izzo, but he and Quinn also know change was needed in the kicking department.
Gay wasn’t producing, so Moody will be tasked with providing the efficiency the Commanders need.
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