Ka'imi

Fairbairn

He becomes the league’s fourth highest paid kicker. Fairbairn, Houston’s kicker since 2017, has made 56 of his 59 field goal tries since the start of the 2022 season, becoming one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers along the way. He’s been solid from distance too, making 30 of his 40 attempts of 50-plus yards over seven pro seasons. With CJ Stroud commanding an explosive Texans offense, Fairbairn will be fantasy relevant for at least the next few years.

Fairbairn has missed more than a month of game action with a lingering quad injury that landed him on injured reserve. He should be back for this week’s game against Tennessee. An injury-marred Houston offense makes Fairbairn a very shaky fantasy option for the rest of the season. The Texans have the sixth most field goal attempts (29) in 2023.

According to Wilson, Fairbairn is faring well in his recovery from a strained quad; he’s just not quite ready to go this week. The team won’t be activating him from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jets and has instead elevated Matt Ammendola from the practice squad. Ammendola is 6-of-9 on field goal attempts this season and made all three of his attempts in last week’s win over the Broncos.

Kickers, we know, but fill-in Matt Ammendola has been extremely shaky for the contending Texans. He has converted just 3-of-6 field goal attempts in the reliable Fairbairn’s absence. Fairbairn has been streamer worthy when healthy this season.

The newly-signed Matt Amendola will handle kicking duties for the Texans in his stead, with Fairbairn now set to miss the next four games for the Texans. He will be eligible to return against the Jets in Week 14.

Matt Ammendola was signed to the Texans’ practice squad earlier this week. He will be called up for kicking duties versus Cincinnati. Ammendola is a viable fantasy option for managers looking to the waiver wire, though the Texans aren’t projected to score points in droves as road underdogs to the Bengals this week.

Unless Fairbairn can return on Friday, Matt Ammendola will handle kicking duties against the Bengals.

Fairbairn was seen working through the thigh quad on the sideline before halftime. After being checked out by medical staff in the locker room, Fairbairn was ruled out. Running back Dare Ogunbowale will serve as the team’s emergency kicker for the remainder of the game.

Fairbairn is reportedly vaccinated, so he could be cleared in time for Week 16 against the Chargers. If he’s unable to do so, the Texans will have to make other plans at kicker.

He has a pulled muscle in his leg that he suffered in pregame warmups ahead of the preseason finale. Out at least three weeks, Fairbairn will likely be replaced on the roster by Joey Slye, who was signed to the practice squad this week following his release from the Panthers.