Matthew Wright will make an unlikely NFL debut Monday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Signed to the practice squad just a week ago, Wright was promoted to the active roster Monday, meaning he will replace an injured Chris Boswell as the Steelers’ placekicker against Washington.
Boswell was added to the injury report Saturday with a hip injury and was downgraded from questionable to doubtful Sunday. It is the first game Boswell will miss since the 2018 season finale when he was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.
Boswell has missed four extra points this season, including one Wednesday in the Steelers’ 19-14 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. He has made 18 of 19 field goal attempts this season, including a career-long 59-yarder at Dallas.
Wright, the leading scorer in UCF history, spent the 2019 training camp with the Steelers and made 5 of 6 attempts in preseason, including four of five between 40 and 49 yards.
In other roster moves announced by the Steelers, tackle Jerald Hawkins was activated from the reserve/covid-19 list, making him eligible to play against Washington. Hawkins is the most experienced extra blocker when the Steelers go to their Jumbo formation. Rookie Kevin Dotson filled that role against the Ravens.
Another tackle, Anthony Coyle, was activated from the practice squad for the game against Washington, which brings a 4-7 record into Heinz Field against the 11-0 Steelers.
Center Maurkice Pouncey and running back James Conner remain on the reserve/covid-19 list.
