Tag: Matt Gay

Another missed field goal from 50-plus yards for Colts K Matt Gay

The Colts came away with the win over the Steelers, but a concerning trend continues for kicker Matt Gay.

The Indianapolis Colts came away with the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but a concerning trend continues for kicker Matt Gay.

On the day, Gay was 2-for-3 on field goal attempts and made all three extra points. However, his one miss came from 54 yards. On its own, that may not draw much attention, but missing from deep is happening often for Gay.

On kicks of 50-plus yards, Gay is now 0-for-2 on the season. If we rewind back to the preseason, Gay was 0-for-2 on field goal attempts of 50 or more yards then as well. So, over the last six or so weeks of football, he’s a combined 0-for-4 on those 50-plus yard attempts.

If we want to extend the timeline even further back, Gay is coming off a 2023 season where he made a career low 61.5 percent of his field goal attempts from over 50 yards, according to PFF.

Gay was 8-for-13 overall on those kicks in 2023 and is 8-for-15 since the start of last year. During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he was a combined 11-for-14 on long field goal attempts.

“I have confidence in Matt, and he knows he’s gotta make those kicks,” Shane Steichen said after Gay’s miss in Green Bay. “And we gotta get that cleaned up for sure.”

That missed field goal on Sunday against the Steelers loomed large at the end of the game. Rather than the Colts being up six points and the Steelers offense needing to drive the length of the field for a touchdown, they instead only needed to get into field goal range. Fortunately, the Colts defense was able to come up with the stop.

A similar situation followed Gay’s miss in Green Bay. On the Colts’ final possession, rather than needing a field goal, they needed a touchdown.

The Colts signed Gay to a lucrative free agent contract during the 2023 offseason. In terms of average annual value, he is currently the fourth-highest paid kicker in the NFL, and the Colts need him to perform as such.

Colts K Matt Gay does not practice Wednesday ahead of Week 3 vs. Bears

Colts kicker Matt Gay did not practice on Wednesday ahead of the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Included on the Indianapolis Colts’ Wednesday injury report was kicker Matt Gay with a right quadricep injury.

Gay did not practice at all on Wednesday. At this time, it is unclear when he sustained the injury.

Related: Colts list 6 players on Wednesday injury report

After suffering a hernia injury in the Colts’ preseason finale against Cincinnati–which did require surgery–Gay was sidelined during the season opener against Houston.

He did, however, practice each day last week and was on the field in Green Bay. In that game, Gay made his lone extra point attempt, but was 1-for-2 on field goals, missing from 50 yards.

In the grand scheme of an NFL season, it’s only one kick, but that miss from Gay in his first game back came on the heels of what was a tough preseason where he made only 1-of-4 attempts, including two misses from 50-plus yards.

On Monday, head coach Shane Steichen said that the kick in Green Bay is one Gay has to make, but he still has confidence in him.

“I have confidence in Matt, and he knows he’s gotta make those kicks,” Steichen said. “And we gotta get that cleaned up for sure.”

We will see how the week progresses for Gay, but if he cannot go, the Colts will elevate rookie Spencer Shrader from the practice squad, as they did in Week 1. Shrader didn’t have any field goal attempts in that contest, but was 3-for-3 on extra point attempts.

Shane Steichen on missed kick by Colts K Matt Gay vs. Packers

Colts kicker Matt Gay missed a field goal attempt vs. the Packers. Here is what head coach Shane Steichen had to say.

Indianapolis Colts’ kicker Matt Gay returned for the team’s Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Gay had previously missed the season opener against Houston with a hernia injury.

Gay would make his lone extra point attempt and finish 1-for-2 on field goals, missing from 50 yards. Had Gay made that kick, the Colts would have only needed a field goal on their final drive, changing the complexion of that possession.

The missed kick hurt, and while it’s only one kick in Gay’s first game back from injury, the miss from 50 yards continues a concerning and inconsistent trend for him.

During the preseason, Gay would make just 1-of-4 field goal attempts, which included two more misses from 50-plus yards and another from 44 yards. All three of those misses were to the left, as was his miss this past Sunday.

Before the regular season began, GM Chris Ballard reiterated his confidence in Gay, and head coach Shane Steichen did the same on Monday.

“I have confidence in Matt, and he knows he’s gotta make those kicks,” Steichen said. “And we gotta get that cleaned up for sure.”

Even last season, 50-plus yard kicks created some issues for Gay. He finished the year making 33-of-41 kicks overall, with five of his misses coming from more than 50 yards.

Now, it wasn’t all bad from deep, in the Colts 2023 Week 3 win over Baltimore, Gay set an NFL record, making four kicks from over 50 yards, including the game-winner.

However, overall, the season was not up to the standards that Gay has set for himself.

“I feel like last year, for me, a bit of a down year by my standards coming off some good years,” said Gay during the offseason via 107.5 The Fan. “Had a lot of kicks that were right there, and again that doesn’t matter, kicking’s black and white, it either went in or it didn’t.”

As Steichen said, this has to get cleaned up. Of the issues that the Colts are currently dealing with, inconsistency at kicker doesn’t need to be added to the list.

After signing with the Colts as a free agent in 2023, Gay will be the fourth-highest-paid kicker this season by average annual value a at $5.625 million.

Colts K Matt Gay returns to practice and should be ‘good to go’

Colts kicker Matt Gay will return to practice on Wednesday and should be “good to go,” as head coach Shane Steichen put it.

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay will return to practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Shane Steichen, adding that Gay should be “good to go.”

Related: Josh Downs will practice Wednesday in limited capacity

Gay suffered a hernia injury in the Colts’ final preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. This is an injury that did require surgery.

Gay did not practice at all last week but did do some kicking on his own. He was initially listed as questionable before being ruled inactive on game day.

In his place, the Colts elevated undrafted rookie Spencer Shrader from the practice squad. Shrader would make all three of his extra-point attempts against the Houston Texans.

From the sounds of Steichen’s “good to go,” the Colts are planning to have Gay available for their Week 2 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Related: DT DeForest Buckner will not practice on Wednesday

Prior to the injury, it was a rough preseason for Gay. Although he would make all five of his extra point attempts, Gay was just 1-for-4 on field goals, which included missing two attempts from 50 or more yards.

However, despite the ups and downs this summer, neither Steichen nor general manager Chris Ballard are concerned about Gay’s ability to make kicks.

“No,” said Ballard when asked if he was concerned about Matt Gay. “He’s a good kicker. A really good kicker.”

Colts still in wait-and-see mode with WR Josh Downs and K Matt Gay

Heading into Week 2, the Colts are still in wait-and-see mode on Monday with WR Josh Downs and K Matt Gay, both of whom missed the first game.

The Colts will remain in wait-and-see mode this week with kicker Matt Gay and wide receiver Josh Downs, both of whom missed the Week 1 opener against Houston with injuries.

“We’ll see how the week progresses with those two,” Shane Steichen said on Monday.

Gay has been dealing with a hernia injury that he sustained against Cincinnati in the final preseason game. Gay mentioned last week that he did have surgery.

Although Gay did not officially practice at all last week, he did do some kicking and was listed as questionable before being ruled out. In his place was undrafted rookie Spencer Shrader, who was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Shrader made all three extra-point attempts.

Downs, meanwhile, has been working through a high ankle sprain that he sustained back on August 7th. He did not practice last week and was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Texans on Friday. Downs was, however, seen working out off the side while practice was taking place.

Without Downs, the Colts took a by-committee approach when it came to those slot snaps, with AD Mitchell and Alec Pierce seeing the bulk of the snaps inside. Anthony Gould had a few opportunities as well.

Getting Downs back would provide and obvious and big boost to the passing game, which while able to create big plays on Sunday, did lack consistency. Downs is coming off a rookie year where he caught over 70 percent of his targets and totaled 771 yards.

Prior to the injury, Downs was having a very good training camp, having built a strong rapport with Anthony Richardson.

The Colts will be back on the practice field Wednesday and the first injury report of the new week will be released.

Colts K Matt Gay’s status for game with Texans still undecided

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay’s status for Sunday’s game with the Houston Texans is still up in the air.

There were only two players on the Colts’ injury report this week ahead of their matchup with the Houston Texans–wide receiver Josh Downs and kicker Matt Gay.

Head coach Shane Steichen has already ruled out Downs following Friday’s practice, while Gay’s status is still up in the air and will be decided over the weekend.

“He’s feeling good,” said Steichen. “He’s progressing well. We’ll make that decision when we need to make that decision.”

Gay has not been a participant in practice this week as he recovers from a hernia injury that required surgery. The injury happened during the Colts’ preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Steichen would, however, that while Gay hasn’t been a formal participant in practice this week, he did do some kicking.

Prior to Gay’s injury, he was having a sporadic preseason, having mad all five extra point attempts, but having made just 1-of-4 field goal attempts, which included two misses from 50-plus yards.

If you ask Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard about Gay, neither has any sort of concerns about his ability to make kicks.

“No,” said Ballard when asked if he was concerned about Matt Gay. “He’s a good kicker. A really good kicker.”

In his first season with the Colts in 2023, Gay would make 33-of-41 attempts, with five of those eight misses coming from 50 or more yards. By Gay’s own admission, the 2023 season was not up to the standards he sets for himself.

If Gay can’t play against Houston, rookie Spencer Shrader will be elevated from the practice squad. In the preseason, Shrader was 4-for-4 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals. This included making a 56-yarder against the Bengals.

 

Colts injury report: Josh Downs and Matt Gay miss second practice

For the second straight day, Colts’ WR Josh Downs and K Matt Gay were not on the practice field ahead of the team’s matchup with the Texans.

The Indianapolis Colts’ Thursday injury report looks the same as it did on Wednesday, with both Josh Downs and Matt Gay not practicing.

Downs has been sidelined since August 7th with a high ankle sprain. At that time, Ian Rapoport reported that Downs could be sidelined 4-6 weeks. The Colts have not put a timeline on his return.

Downs continues to trend in the right direction, but his status for Sunday’s game is very much up in the air at this time.

“Yeah, real close,” said Downs about returning via Locked On Colts. “Still up in the air about this weekend. Not sure yet, but definitely making strides. I was out there yesterday running routes, so feeling pretty good.”

Gay was out as he recovers from a hernia injury he suffered against Cincinnati in the preseason finale. Gay did acknowledge that he had surgery but has not yet been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

If Downs cannot play, then we will likely continue to see a heavy dose of AD Mitchell in the slot with Anthony Gould perhaps tasked with taking on some of the pre-snap motion responsibilities that Downs has been tasked with.

If Gay is out, then rookie Spencer Shrader will be elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Shrader made both field goal attempts during the preseason, including a 56 yarder.

At this point, if there is any hope of either player seeing the field on Sunday, I would guess that they’ll have to practice in some capacity on Friday.

Colts list only 2 players on first injury report vs. Texans

The Indianapolis Colts listed two players on their initial injury report ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans.

The Indianapolis Colts were back on the practice field Wednesday, and with that, the team released its initial injury report ahead of their matchup with Houston.

Only two players were on the injury report: wide receiver Josh Downs and kicker Matt Gay. Neither player would practice.

While Downs did not practice on Wednesday, head coach Shane Steichen would  mention beforehand that he’s “progressing well.”

Downs’ status for Sunday is still to be determined but will likely need to be on the practice field in some capacity on Thursday if there is any hope of him playing, given that he hasn’t practiced in nearly a month. If Downs can’t go, we will likely see AD Mitchell taking the bulk of the slot snaps, with perhaps Anthony Gould getting some opportunities here and there.

Downs suffered the high ankle sprain in practice on August 7th. At the time, Ian Rapoport reported that he would be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. The four week mark puts him right at the start of the regular season. Downs was seen at practice working out with trainers.

Gay, meanwhile, is sidelined with a hernia injury he suffered in the team’s preseason game against Cincinnati. Gay would confirm that he did have surgery although the Colts at this time haven’t ruled out him kicking on Sunday.

If Gay can’t go, Spencer Shrader will be elevated from the practice squad. Schrader was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts during the preseason, which included a 56 yarder, and 4-for-4 on extra points.

Dallis Flowers who missed some time last week was back at practice today and was a full participant, as was Tanor Bortolini, who suffered a toe injury in the preseason finale against Cincinnati.

Colts’ K Matt Gay won’t practice Wednesday with hernia injury

Colts’ kicker Matt Gay will not practice on Wednesday ahead of the team’s matchup with Houston as he works through a hernia injury.

Ahead of the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 1 matchup with the Houston Texans, kicker Matt Gay will not practice on Wednesday, according to head coach Shane Steichen.

Steichen would clarify that Gay is dealing with a hernia injury, although he did not specify if Gay had surgery. His status for Sunday’s game is up in the air.

Update: According to Stephen Holder of ESPN, Gay did say that he had surgery. Holder adds that the Colts haven’t ruled out Gay kicking on Sunday at this time.

Gay would suffer the injury in the preseason finale against Cincinnati. In that game, Gay attempted the first extra point, but the remaining attempts were made by undrafted rookie Spencer Shrader.

Gay finished the preseason making all five extra point attempts, but he was just 1-for-4 on field goal attempts with two misses from 50-plus yards.

However, despite the up and down performance, both Steichen and GM Chris Ballard have zero concerns.

“No,” said Ballard when asked if he was concerned about Matt Gay. “He’s a good kicker. A really good kicker.”

Last season, his first with the Colts, Gay would make 33 of his 41 attempts, with five of those misses coming from 50 or more yards–although, it’s important to note that Gay did become the first kicker in NFL history to make four 50-plus yarders in a single game–including the game-winner–in the Colts’ Week 3 matchup against Baltimore.

If Gay is unable to play on Sunday, the team will elevate Shrader from the practice squad. This preseason, Shrader was 4-for-4 on extra point attempts and 2-for-2 on field goals, which included making a 56 yarder against the Bengals.

Colts’ K Matt Gay dealing with groin injury, status for rest of week unknown

Shane Steichen said following Monday’s practice that kicker Matt Gay was working through a groin injury. His status for practice is unknown.

Following Monday’s practice ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Houston Texans, head coach Shane Steichen announced that Colts’ kicker Matt Gay is dealing with a groin injury.

When Steichen was asked if Gay would practice this week, Steichen said, “we’ll see,” leaving his status for the team’s Week 1 matchup up in the air at this time.

https://twitter.com/JakeArthurNFL/status/1830681391736201375

On the practice squad, the Colts brought back rookie Spencer Shrader with Gay dealing with this injury. Appearing in two of the Colts’ three preseason games, Shrader would make all four extra point attempts and both field goals, including a 56 yarder.

Gay would have an up and down preseason. While he made all five extra point attempts, he as just 1-for-4 on field goals, with two misses from 50-plus yards.

At this time, we do not know when Gay began dealing with this injury, but for what it’s worth, after kicking the first extra point attempt in the preseason finale against Cincinnati, Shrader would attempt the 56 and 41 yard attempts later in the game.

Both Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard have expressed the confidence they have in Gay as their kicker.

“No,” said Ballard when asked if he was concerned about Matt Gay. “He’s a good kicker. A really good kicker.”

Gay is coming off a 2023 season–his first with the Colts–where he made 33-of-41 attempts. Five of those eight misses would come from 50-plus yards–although in Week 3 against Baltimore, he did become the first kicker to make four kicks in a game from 50 or more yards, including the game-winner.