With Matt Prater sidelined, Buffalo has signed a new kicker. Matthew Wright brings a reliable leg and proven track record as the Bills prepare for Jacksonville.
The Buffalo Bills added insurance at the kicker position on Tuesday, signing Matthew Wright to the practice squad as uncertainty continues to surround Matt Prater’s availability.
Prater’s status is in question after his right quad injury flared up again during Buffalo’s Week 18 win over the New York Jets. The veteran kicker had already missed the Bills’ previous two games with the same issue, and the setback raises legitimate concerns about his ability to handle kicking duties moving forward, particularly with the playoffs underway.
Wright, 29, brings a well-traveled résumé and a track record of reliability when called upon. He has appeared in 33 career NFL games, totaling 225 points on 60 made field goals and 45 extra points. Wright has a career field goal percentage of 88.2% (60-of-68), including a respectable 77.4% success rate from beyond 40 yards.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, Wright has since spent time with eight different teams prior to joining the Bills. Since 2019, Wright has kicked for Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Carolina, San Francisco, Tennessee, Washington, and Houston. That experience, while somewhat nomadic, has made him a familiar option for teams needing a quick, low-risk solution at kicker.
Most recently, Wright appeared in four games during the 2025 season, where he went a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts and converted all four of his extra point tries. Most recently, he was with the Texans while their starting kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was out with injury. That recent efficiency likely played a role in Buffalo’s decision to bring him in as depth while Prater’s health is evaluated.
A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wright played five seasons at Central Florida and left the program as its all-time leading scorer with 375 points, along with a school-record 55 made field goals. His collegiate production and NFL experience make him a logical practice squad addition rather than a long-term developmental project.
For now, Wright’s signing should be viewed as precautionary. However, if Prater’s quad does not respond well in the coming days, Wright could be elevated this weekend---using one of the two available practice squad call ups---giving Buffalo a dependable option as it prepares for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.
To make room for Wright on the practice squad, the Bills released offensive lineman Richard Gouraige.