In a surprising lineup change, the Carolina Panthers will be employing Matthew Wright as their kicker in the upcoming season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The decision comes after regular kicker Eddy Piñeiro was declared inactive due to an aggravating hamstring issue.

Piñeiro, who was unable to kick in the previous week's game due to his troublesome hamstring, saw linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill step in to handle kickoff duties. Unfortunately, the Panthers experienced their first shutout since 2002, rendering punter Johnny Hekker's services unnecessary for field goals or extra points.

The 27-year-old Wright had previously been with the Panthers during preseason when Piñeiro was sidelined with a minor groin injury. During that time, he successfully kicked two field goals, one from 37 yards and the other from an impressive 53 yards. His overall career accuracy stands at 87.0 percent, having made 40 out of 46 field goals in his professional journey.

Aside from Piñeiro, the Panthers will also be without cornerback Shaquill Griffin, offensive linemen Cade Mays, Ricky Lee, and Ilm Manning, wide receiver Mike Strachan, and outside linebacker Marquis Haynes Sr., who is currently in the concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury last week.

However, there is a positive note as cornerback Jaycee Horn is set to be active and expected to take the field this week. Horn, a seasoned veteran, was an inactive player in the previous game due to a resurfacing toe injury that flared up after the team had already submitted their inactive list.

With Mays absent from the offensive line, the Panthers will rely on Nash Jensen and Gabe Jackson as starting guards, with J.D. DiRenzo and Deonte Brown serving as reserves.

It's worth noting that the Panthers have utilized a staggering seven different left guards and eight different right guards throughout the entirety of this season.

The Panthers' decision to elevate Wright to the active roster for the final game of the 2021 season brings a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Fans will be eagerly watching as the team looks to end the season on a high note, hoping for a strong performance from their new kicker against the formidable Buccaneers.

As the Panthers prepare for their last showdown of the season, the arrival of players at the Bank of America Stadium adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding this crucial game.