Jaguars elevate PK Matthew Wright, Activate WR Tavon Austin

The Jaguars will get some help at receiver tonight after activated WR Tavon Austin from the team’s reserve/designated to return list ahead of its matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals for Thursday Night Football.

The team has also elevated kicker Matthew Wright to the active roster via standard practice squad elevation. Wright signed with the team’s practice squad on Monday.

Tonight, he will be replacing K Josh Lambo after the veteran kicker was ruled out for tonight’s matchup due to personal reasons. Lambo would miss both days of walkthroughs with the team this week.

Last season, Wright went 4-of-4 on field goals and 7-of-7 on PATs. He also handled 14 kickoffs for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent a portion of the 2021 training camp with Detroit.

If Wright is successful tonight, it could spell the end of Lambo’s career in Jacksonville. At the end of the day, Lambo, who has missed on all of his field-goal attempts, and two extra points this season, has to make his kicks, Meyer said this week.

“The one thing I respect about him [is] he’s as hard working if not the hardest working specialist I’ve ever had,” said Meyer. “But there’s also the reality, you have to make kicks. There’s nothing about attitude, nothing about work ethic, but reality is that ball has to go through the uprights.”

For Austin, it will be the first time the team has seen him suit up since the preseason. The 9th-year receiver participated in the team’s training camp, signing with the club on Aug. 6 after a workout. After playing through the preseason, Austin would injure his quad, causing him to land on the team’s reserve/injured list shortly after final cuts were announced.

After missing the first three games of the season, Austin practiced for the first time this week and is set to suit up tonight against the Bengals. Over two games in the preseason, Austin accounted for eight receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown.