Jaguars couldn’t keep Josh Lambo after Wright’s clutch performance

After struggling early in the 2021 season and the rise of kicker Matthew Wright, the Jacksonville Jaguars have moved on from Josh Lambo. The team announced the move early Tuesday. 

The NFL is a straightforward business. Execute, and you get to keep your job. Fail to perform and your services will no longer be needed. Kicker Josh Lambo found out about this reality when the Jags decided to move on from him. Make no mistake though, his release doesn’t come as a surprise after underperforming in 2021 and struggling with injuries the season before.

Before his recent funk, Lambo was one of the most reliable kickers in the league from 2017 to 2020, completing 95 percent of his attempts. All in all, he missed just four field goals. However, the Former Texas A&M Aggie was 0-of-3 in field goal attempts in 2021 and also missed two extra points. Head coach Urban Meyer told the local media Monday the team’s decision-makers would be meeting to talk about Lambo’s status later that day. It looks like his eventual release was discussed at the reunion.

The fact that Wright kicked two 50+ field goals, including the game-winner, against the Miami Dolphins in Week 6 didn’t help his case. Wright had been handling kicking duties since Week 4. He botched an extra point and a field goal against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, so it was uncertain if he would get the nod against the Phins. He did and made the most out of it. Of course, the Jags appreciate Lambo’s time in Jacksonville, and his contributions on and off the field, that’s why they thanked him on social media. Here’s the post in question.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could no longer justify giving Josh Lambo a roster spot.

Wright signed to the practice squad on September 28th. For the Bengals and Titans game, the team elevated him but that was no longer an option ahead of Week 6 since rules allow teams to elevate the same practice squad player twice a season. That’s why he was signed to the active roster. Moving forward, it wasn’t feasible to devote two roster spots to the kicking position, so Lambo had to go.

There’s no doubt Lambo was a fan favorite, and nobody will forget his run in Jacksonville. Sometimes, the line between the person and the player is blurry but the Jaguars made the right thing by releasing him. He had been dealing with personal issues, and the organization can still support him. But that doesn’t mean they should give him a roster spot when he showed he can’t contribute right now.

The Jaguars have made some questionable personnel decisions in recent years. They have released or traded key contributors instead of doing anything they could to keep them. Lambo doesn’t fit that category, he had been dealing with injuries and wasn’t the same kicker he was before 2020.