Ka'imi Fairbairn could make his 2021 regular-season debut in the coming weeks, possibly as soon as Week 4 in Buffalo. The Texans sixth-year kicker missed the league-minimum three games and has been designated to return off the Reserve/Injured list.
"I expect him to (come off IR), but we will know more about him on Wednesday," Head Coach David Culley said Monday. "This is what we targeted for him getting back."
Under NFL rules, designating a return off injured reserve allows a player to begin practices. The club then has a 21-day window to decide whether or not to activate the player to the 53-man roster. If the player isn't activated by the end of the three-week practice window, he remains on IR for the remainder of the season. Due to COVID-19, the league relaxed its IR rules. Now, teams can designate unlimited players to return from IR and they become eligible after missing just three games.
Fairbairn was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 8 after suffering a pulled leg muscle during pregame warmups of the final preseason game. The Texans signed K Joey Slye to fill in for Fairbairn. Slye, who played two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, has made 4-of-5 field goals and connected on 7-of-8 extra-point attempts through three games.
The Texans will face the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Week 4. Kickoff is set for Sunday at noon CT.
See the Texans at home as they host the New England Patriots on October 10th. Kickoff is set for noon CT. Click here for tickets.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
DB, Grayland Arnold, #35
DL, Thomas Booker, #56
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, A.J. Cann, #60
LB, Blake Cashman, #53
DL, Maliek Collins, #96
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
OL, Austin Deculus, #76
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #50
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
OL, Kenyon Green, #59.
DL, Rasheem Green, #92
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
FB, Troy Hairston, #34
LB, Jake Hansen, #49
DL, Demone Harris, #94
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
DL, Kurt Hinish, #93
TE, O.J. Howard, #83
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes, #55
WR, Tyler Johnson, #14
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson, #21
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33
DL, Ogbo Okoronkwo, #45
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31
DB, Jalen Pitre, #5
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #44
DB, Tremon Smith, #1.
DB, M.J. Stewart, #29
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
LS, Jon Weeks #46
An image from the Aug 19, 2022 preseason week 2 game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
