LV Matt Gay
NFL kicker. Position: K. Team: LV (Las Vegas Raiders).
Quick Facts
- Position: K
- Team: LV (Las Vegas Raiders)
Matt Gay is the veteran competitor in the Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 kicking battle against undrafted free agent Kansei Matsuzawa. Gay has been steady in training camp practices while Matsuzawa has had issues in camp sessions, with the UFA hitting the upright on his lone field goal attempt in the preseason opener. Gay holds the edge as of late August 2026, though the competition will continue through two more preseason games before Week 1. Whichever kicker wins the job—Gay or Matsuzawa—is projected to lead the Raiders in total scoring for 2026, as kickers handle both extra points (1 point each) and field goals (3 points each), giving them unmatched volume. Gay's experience and recent strong performance in camp position him as the frontrunner for the Week 1 start (per The candidates who'll lead the Raiders in scoring this season - Yahoo Sports).
Preseason Week 3 dominant performance (Aug 27): In the Raiders' preseason finale vs. the 49ers, Gay went 4-for-5 on field goal attempts, including makes from 51, 48, and 53 yards, showcasing the consistency that positions him to win the kicking competition heading into Week 1. The strong evening reinforces his veteran reliability over Matsuzawa and cements his status as the likely Week 1 starter (per Raiders vs 49ers live updates: Score, highlights, TV channel for NFL preseason game - USA Today).
Role / Depth Chart
Competing for starting kicker role for Las Vegas Raiders in 2026.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
- 2026-08-28 — Matt Gay goes 4-for-5 in Raiders preseason finale, solidifying kicker battle lead (Raiders vs 49ers live updates: Score, highlights, TV channel for NFL preseason game - USA Today)
- 2026-08-16 — Matt Gay leads Raiders kicker battle over Kansei Matsuzawa (The candidates who'll lead the Raiders in scoring this season - Yahoo Sports)