Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn exited with an injury in the first half of their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here’s the latest on Fairbairn and the Texans’ kicking situation.
Latest Ka’imi Fairbairn Injury Update
Fairbairn suffered an injury during the first half of the game and was ruled out for the remainder of the game by Houston when the second half began.
Commentator Evan Washburn said on the broadcast that Fairbairn was “dealing with some sort of injury” and said he did not come out for the second half. It’s unclear when Fairbairn suffered the injury.
“Ka’imi had a lower-leg injury that we were concerned about him being comfortable, being able to go out and perform to his standard,” Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters after the game. “So, we went with Dare.”
Houston eventually announced that Fairbairn was dealing with a quadriceps injury. He will undergo an MRI on Monday and could be sidelined for multiple games, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale came out to take the opening kickoff of the second half in Fairbairn’s stead. He took all of the team’s kickoffs for the remainder of the game.
#Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale handles the second half kickoff with Ka’imi Fairbairn sidelined with an apparent injury. 👀
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 5, 2023
Houston’s strategy for the game shifted without its starting kicker or another truly viable option.
The Texans largely shied away from field goal attempts and elected to go for 2-point conversions after each of their touchdowns in the second half rather than have Ogunbowale or another player attempt an extra point.
Ogunbowale later made a 29-yard field goal attempt with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter to give the Texans a 33-30 lead.
“Dare, he stepped up big time for us,” Ryans told reporters. “For him to be able to kick off as many times as he did, create some touchbacks, but also for him to kick the field goal. We were confident he could make it from there, and he proved us right. Credit to Dare, he’s truly the player of the game.”
Punter Cameron Johnston could be an option at the spot if Fairbairn is forced to miss more time with the injury. Johnston took two kickoffs during the 2020 season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles but has never kicked a field goal or extra point in the NFL.
He also did not attempt an extra point or a field goal during his four-year career at Ohio State University.
The different motion between kicking and punting could have been a factor in not having Johnston attempt field goals or kickoffs on Sunday.
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