Matt Gay is set to open the season as the Raiders’ kicker, but Las Vegas isn’t done thinking about the position.
That’s the reality after a quiet but important training camp battle that ended with the veteran free agent signing beating out rookie UDFA Kansei Matsuzawa for the starting job. Gay didn’t just survive the competition by default, either. In Thursday’s preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers, he put together the kind of night that at least made the decision feel earned.
Matsuzawa didn’t get a rep in the game. Gay handled five field goal attempts and four kickoffs, clearly getting one last tune-up before the 2026 NFL season begins.
He connected from 53, 48, 45 and 37 yards, then missed from 54 yards. It was a strong enough showing to close the door for now, even if it wasn’t flawless.
NFL kickers made 60% of their attempts from 50+ yards last season.
The path here was messy. Both kickers had their issues early in the summer, and Matsuzawa especially had a rough preseason.
He missed a 38-yarder against the Arizona Cardinals in the opener, then failed to place a kickoff in the landing zone or inbounds, which led to a penalty. He also missed two extra points in the second exhibition game against the Houston Texans.
Gay had already started to separate himself before Thursday. Last week, he hit a 52-yard field goal on his lone attempt, and that was enough to put him ahead.
The preseason finale simply finished the job. Unless the Raiders bring in someone else this week, the job is his.
Still, that doesn’t mean John Spytek and the front office should stop looking around.
Gay arrived in Las Vegas with a shaky track record, and he’s coming off a career-worst campaign in 2025. What happens in camp, joint practices and preseason games only tells part of the story. The regular season is where a kicker either steadies the ship or puts the team right back in the market.
If things go sideways, Matsuzawa could still be an internal fallback if he lands on the practice squad, since he has an exemption after joining the Silver and Black through the International Player Pathway. But Las Vegas could also look outside the building.
There are veteran options still on the market, including Matt Prater, Brandon McManus and Graham Gano. The Raiders could also chase a younger or less proven leg with upside. And with kicking competitions unfolding around the league, Spytek and the personnel staff should be watching for the losers who get cut and become available.
For now, Gay has the job. The bigger question is whether he can hold onto it when the games count.
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Mendozas line was uneven, with 5 completions on 9 attempts for 38 yards, one interception and two sacks. For Las Vegas, the bigger takeaway may be less about the stat sheet than the process, because the rookie is being asked to grow fast while the Raiders sort through how much patience his development will require. [Read more 🡒]