Fairbairn and the Texans have agreed on a two-year deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The contract is a two-year, $13 million extension, which makes Fairbairn the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. The 32-year-old made NFL history during the 2025 season by tying David Akers' 2011 record for most field goals in a single season with 44. This extension will provide key continuity on special teams for the Texans as they chase a fourth consecutive playoff berth in the 2026 season.
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Matthew Wright: Joins Buffalo's practice squad
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The Bills signed Wright to their practice squad Tuesday.
Buffalo will bring Wright aboard as an insurance option at kicker in the event that Matt Prater (quadriceps) is unable to play in Sunday's wild-card game at Jacksonville. The well-traveled Wright has previously seen NFL action with eight teams over the last six seasons, converting 60 of his 68 field-goal attempts (88.2 percent) with a long of 59 yards over 33 career games.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Ties NFL record in win
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Fairbairn successfully converted six of six field-goal attempts and both extra-point tries in Sunday's 38-30 win over Indianapolis.
Fairbairn, who tied a franchise record for field goals in a single game, upped his season total to 44 field goals, which tied an NFL single-season record set by David Akers in 2011 for the 49ers. Fairbairn, who missed two games in 2025 due to injury, converted 44 of 48 attempts (91.6 percent) and all 28 of his extra-point tries in 2025. He finished second in the NFL scoring with 160 points, behind only Seattle's Jason Myers (171).
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Practices in full Thursday
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Fairbairn (illness) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Fairbarin was limited in Wednesday's practice while under the weather, but it appears the veteran kicker is past his illness and is on track to play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Colts. Fairbairn has gone 38-for-42 on field-goal attempts and 26-for-26 on point-after tries through 14 regular-season games.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Flawless in win
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Fairbairn made both of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries in Saturday's 20-16 win over the Chargers.
Fairbairn converted field-goal attempts from 41 yards and 44 yards in Saturday's effort. The kicker accounted for eight of the team's 20 points in the win. Fairbairn has now made 38 of 42 field goals and 26 of 26 extra points on the season.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Converts two FGAs in victory
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Fairbairn went 2-for-2 on field-goal tries and made both of his PATs in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Chiefs.
Fairbairn connected on a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter before later adding a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter, notching his eighth straight contest with at least two field-goal makes. The kicker has been an elite option for fantasy managers this season, going 29-for-32 on field-goal tries, including 5-for-8 from 50-plus yards, over 11 games.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Makes three FGAs in return
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Fairbairn went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made both of his PATs in Thursday night's 23-19 win over the Bills.
Fairbairn made his return to action after missing two games with a right quadriceps injury, connecting on field goals of 24 and 43 yards in the first half before later adding a 26-yard make in the third quarter. The kicker has now made multiple field goals in six straight contests that he's appeared in, tallying 12 total field-goal makes over his last three games. Fairbairn has gone 25-for-28 on field-goal tries, including 5-for-8 from 50-plus yards, while making all 14 of his extra-point attempts over nine contests this season.
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Texans' Matthew Wright: Will start Week 11
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Wright will start Sunday's game against the Titans with Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) having been ruled out on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Houston signed Wright to the active roster after Fairbairn suffered his quad injury Week 9, signaling that the team anticipated needing a multi-game fill-in. In his team debut versus the Jaguars in Week 10, Wright converted his only field-goal attempt and his lone extra-point try. He'll work to remain accurate on the road against Tennessee.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Won't face Titans
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Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Thursday that Fairbairn (quadriceps) is ruled out for Sunday's game against Tennessee, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fairbairn will miss a second consecutive game due to a quad injury suffered Week 9 versus the Broncos, leaving Matthew Wright in position to draw another start versus the Titans. In Week 12, Fairbairn will face a short recovery window before the Texans take on Buffalo on Thursday Night Football, which increases the risk of him being sidelined for a third straight game.
Fairbairn (quad) isn't practicing Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Fairbairn was expected to miss more than one week after getting hurt in Week 9 against the Broncos, per an earlier report from Wilson. The standout kicker is tracking toward a second consecutive absence Sunday against the Titans, though Fairbairn could give himself a chance to play by returning to practice Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. Matthew Wright filled in for Fairbairn in Week 10 against the Jaguars and would do so again Sunday if Fairbairn's ruled out.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Not practicing Wednesday
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Fairbairn (quad) didn't practice Wednesday.
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Matthew Wright was signed to the Texans' active roster (from the practice squad) Saturday under the expectation that Fairbairn -- who was inactive Sunday against the Jaguars -- will need more than one week to heal up. Following a DNP on Wednesday, Fairbairn has two more chances to practice ahead of Week 11 action, but for now it looks like Wright is trending toward kicking again this weekend.
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Texans' Matthew Wright: Signed to Houston's active roster
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The Texans signed Wright from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
The move means Wright will serve as the Texans' starting placekicker against the Jaguars on Sunday due to the absence of Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps). Wright has appeared in two regular-season games in 2025 between the Titans and Commanders, and he has connected on 87.5 percent of his field goals on 64 attempts during his six-year NFL career. Davis Mills will serve as the Texans' starting quarterback in Week 10 in the absence of C.J. Stroud (concussion), so Wright could have more field-goal opportunities assuming Houston's offense stalls out more often in opposing territory and the red zone.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Ruled out for Sunday
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Fairbairn (quad) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Fairbairn, who wasn't able to practice this week, thus will target a potential return to action Sunday, Nov. 16 against the Titans. In Fairbairn's absence this weekend, Matthew Wright is on track to be elevated from the practice squad to kick this weekend.
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Texans' Matthew Wright: Expected to be active Week 10
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Wright is expected to replace the injured Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) as Houston's placekicker for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Wilson goes as far to say that Fairbairn, who leads NFL kickers with 25 field-goal attempts, has been ruled out Week 10, but the Texans have not yet confirmed that. If he replaces Fairbairn, Wright steps into a friendly situation for a kicker, as Houston's offense ranks last in the NFL in converting red-zone appearances into touchdowns.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Dealing with lower body injury
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Fairbairn is dealing with a lower body injury following Sunday's 18-15 loss to the Broncos, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
The 31-year-old sustained an apparent lower body injury despite converting on five of six field-goal tries during the Texans' Week 9 loss. His practice participation throughout the week will likely provide the clearest indication of his availability in the Week 10 matchup against the Jaguars. If Fairbairn is unable to suit up, Houston added veteran kicker Matthew Wright to its practice squad Wednesday as potential insurance.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Scores all 15 points for Houston
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Fairbairn went 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts during the Texans' 18-15 loss to the Broncos on Sunday.
Fairbairn's 51-yard field goal on the Texans' first offensive drive sailed wide right, but the veteran kicker had no trouble with his next five attempts, all of which came from 41 yards or closer. His five made field goals matched a career high, and he has gone 9-for-10 on field-goal tries over his last two games. Four of his made field goals Sunday came on drives with Davis Mills under center, who came into the game early in the second quarter after C.J. Stroud (concussion) left the game. Fairbairn could be in for another busy day against the Jaguars in Week 10 if Stroud does not clear the league's concussion protocol.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Perfect with ample opportunities
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Fairbairn made all three field-goal attempts and all five extra-point tries in Sunday's 44-10 win over the Ravens.
Two of Fairbairn's field goals came from 50 or more yards, while the other was good from 34. The kicker is now 11-for-13 on field goals and 9-for-9 on extra points in 2025. If the Texans' offense can keep it going two weeks from now against Seattle, Fairbairn is a viable fantasy option.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Limited action in Week 3
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Fairbairn went 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts and made his only PAT in Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Jaguars.
Fairbairn missed a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter before later connecting on a 27-yard attempt in the second quarter. The kicker has now gone 6-for-7 on field-goal tries, including 3-for-5 from 50-plus yards, while making both of his extra-point attempts over three games this season.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Connects on two FGAs in Week 2
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Fairbairn went 2-for-2 on field-goal tries and made one PAT in Monday's 20-19 loss to the Buccaneers.
Fairbairn made a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter before later adding a 53-yard make in the fourth. The kicker has now opened the season having gone 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts, including three makes from 50-plus yards, over two games.
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Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Drills lone FGA
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Fairbairn converted his lone field-goal attempt in Saturday's 20-10 preseason loss to Minnesota.
Fairbairn drilled a 43-yarder for Houston's lone score in the second half. He's working with a new long snapper this season -- rookie Austin Brinkman -- after Jon Weeks moved on to the 49ers. Fairbairn has been one of the more consistent kickers the last few years, having converted 91.1 percent (92-of-101) of his FGA during that span. That includes 85.7 percent from beyond the 50-yard line.
