KA'IMI FAIRBAIRN NEWS

Rough game Fairbairn converted one of two field-goal attempts and one of three extra-point kicks in Sunday's 25-22 loss to the Patriots.

Impact Fairbairn's typically a better kicker than he showed Sunday, so the temptation is to write this off as a bad week. The missed field goal was an excusable 56-yard try, but the two missed extra points and a kickoff that went out of bounds were problematic. It should be noted that these were his first attempts since returning from a leg injury in Week 4. Other than a kickoff, he did not make the field during last week's 40-0 loss to Buffalo.

OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

No kicks in return Fairbairn did not attempt a kick in Sunday's 40-0 loss to the Bills.

Impact Fairbairn was active for the first time this season after overcoming a leg injury, but the kicker didn't have any scoring opportunities as Houston was blanked in Buffalo. The veteran will hope to get a few chances to show his stuff in Week 5 versus the Patriots.

OCTOBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Set for Week 4 Fairbairn was activated off injured reserve Saturday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Impact Fairbairn missed the first three games while recovering from a leg injury, but the 27-year-old will make his return Week 4 in what figures to be a difficult matchup against a tough Buffalo defense. Fairbairn will replace Joey Slye, who was waived earlier this week after going 11-of-13 on total kicks to start the season.

OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expected back Week 4 The Texans plan to add Fairbairn (leg) to the 53-man roster this week and have him assume kicking duties Sunday against the Bills, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports. "...

Impact After missing the Texans' first three games while recovering from a leg injury, Fairbairn was designated to return from injured reserve Monday and took part in practice that day. Houston has apparently been satisfied with how Fairbairn has checked out during his first couple of workouts, with special teams coordinator Frank Ross telling Aaron Reiss of The Athletic on Thursday that the kicker is ready to play. Assuming Fairbairn is in fact activated from IR before Saturday's deadline for Week 4 eligibility, he'll take back kicking duties from Joey Slye, who's missed one of five field-goal attempts and one of eight extra-point attempts through Houston's first three contests.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Designated to return from IR Fairbairn (leg) was designated to return from injured reserve by the Texans on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact With the move, Fairbairn will have a three-week window to be added to the active roster. If not, he'll remain on IR. Coach David Culley has expressed confidence that, when healthy, Fairbairn will be Houston's kicker, so it's safe to assume he will overtake Joey Slye if he is activated.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Texans must improve run and defense as QB Mills settles in

Since the start of training camp Houston coach David Culley has insisted the Texans would have to run the ball effectively and force turnovers to win this season

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Will be evaluated Wednesday David Culley said Friday that Fairbairn (leg) will be re-evaluated Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Impact Fairbairn was placed on IR before the Texans' season opener and will be eligible to return during Week 4 if he is healthy. Joey Slye has connected on four of his five field-goal attempts and seven of his eight PATs while filling in for Fairbairn, but he hasn't done enough to win the job. Culley said, "If [Fairbairn] is ready to go, we'll go with him".

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Texans' Mills must improve if Taylor is out against Panthers

The Houston Texans hope Tyrod Taylor can play Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lands on IR Fairbairn (leg) has been placed on IR by the Texans.

Impact Fairbairn, who suffered a leg injury during pregame warmups prior to Houston's third preseason game, will thus sit out at least the team's first three games. In the wake of the move, look for the Texans to promote Joey Slye from their practice squad in advance of Sunday's season opener against the Jaguars.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Won't kick Sunday Fairbairn (leg) won't kick in Sunday's season opener against the Jaguars, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

Impact Fairbairn is still recovering from an injury that he suffered in pregame warmups prior to Houston's third preseason game. In his looming absence, look for the Texans to promote Joey Slye from their practice squad.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Should be ready for Week 1 Fairbairn was held out of Saturday's preseason game against the Buccaneers after tweaking a leg muscle pregame, but the injury isn't expected to affect his availability for Week 1...

Impact Coach David Culley said Fairbairn would have been able to play were it the regular season, so the kicker's absence appears to have been a precautionary measure. There's not much concern over the issue, and the 27-year-old will have a couple weeks to get back to full health before the Sept. 12 matchup with Jacksonville.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Out as precaution Saturday Fairbairn was held out of Saturday's preseason game against the Buccaneers due to a minor injury, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Fairbairn's absence is merely a precautionary measure, and likely one to ensure he's as healthy as possible for the regular season. The Texans next take the field Sunday, Sept. 12 against the Jaguars.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect again Fairbairn made two of two field-goal attempts and both extra points in Saturday's 20-14 win over Dallas in Preseason Week 2.

Impact Fairbairn has converted all six field-goal tries over the first two preseason games and is poised for a potentially productive season, if the offense fails to finish drives. Houston's offense stumbled for a second straight week, producing its lone touchdown after the defense forced a turnover on the Cowboys' first drive of the game.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Love 'dinged' in Packers' 26-7 preseason loss to Texans

Tyrod Taylor went 4 of 4 for 40 yards in his lone series and rookie quarterback Davis Mills led a couple of scoring drives for the Houston Texans in a 26-7 preseason victory over t...

AUGUST 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Big game in finale Fairbairn successfully made all four field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder, and two of three extra-point kicks in Sunday's 41-38 loss to Tennessee.

Impact Fairbairn had a season-high 14 points and calmly drilled the 51-yarder with 18 seconds left to tie the game at 38-38. Unfortunately, Houston's sketchy defense gave up a big play and his heroics were for naught. Fairbairn finished the season with 118 points -- his third consecutive year with more than 100 points -- and he was successful on 87 percent of his field-goal attempts. He inked a four-year deal prior to the 2020 season and should be back for 2021.

JANUARY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect in loss Fairbairn made his lone field-goal attempt and four of four extra-point kicks in Sunday's 37-31 loss to the Bengals.

Impact Fairbairn's production in Week 16 leaves him with 104 points, the fourth straight season he's crossed the 100-point threshold. With one week left in 2020, the UCLA grad has averaged 111.5 points while connecting on 84 percent of field-goal attempts and 92.4 percent of extra-point kicks.

DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Makes all kicks in loss Fairbairn was successful on two of two field-goal attempts and made both of his extra-point kicks in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts.

Impact Fairbairn benefitted from Houston's failure in the red zone, where they scored just one touchdown over four trips. The eight-point effort gives him 97 for the season, which puts him in the middle of pack heading into Week 16 against the Bengals, who are tied for 30th in fantasy points allowed to kickers.

DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Gets near day off in loss Fairbairn did not have a field-goal attempt and made his lone extra-point kick in Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Bears.

Impact The Texans were down 30-7 at halftime and were in no need for three pointers from Fairbairn, who had averaged nearly nine points over the previous three games. Houston's lone second-half, red-zone drive stalled out on downs. On a related note, quarterback Deshaun Watson took a beating Sunday (six sacks, 11 quarterback hits) and left the game briefly with an elbow injury. If the Texans decide it's not worth risking Watson at any point over the final three games, the offense may not provide many scoring opportunities for Fairbairn.

DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Nails long-distance FG Fairbairn was successful on two of three field-goal attempts and made two extra-point kicks in Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Colts.

Impact Fairbairn's miss was wide right from 53 yards, but the kicker was successful on a boot from 52 yards, his third make in five tries from beyond the 50. The Texans are on the road Week 14 against a Bears defense that ranks 13th in scoring (23.7 PPG).

DECEMBER 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Misses extra point Fairbairn made two of two field-goal attempts and three of four extra-point kicks in Thursday's 41-25 win over Detroit.

Impact Fairbairn's extra-point miss was his second of the season. He went wide left after Houston's first score of the day, but the failure did not come back to bite the Texans, who scored on six of their 12 possessions and had a defensive touchdown. Fairbairn, who has recorded nine points in three of the past four games, is tied for 22nd in kicker scoring with 7.27 points per game.

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect in win Fairbairn made two of two field-goal attempts and all three extra-point kicks in Sunday's 27-20 win over New England.

Impact With much better conditions Sunday than he had in last week's game in Cleveland, Fairbairn was perfect inside Houston's dome. He's recorded nine points in two of the last three games.

NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Misses FGA in three-point loss Fairbairn missed his lone field-goal attempt and successfully converted his lone extra-point kick in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Browns.

Impact Fairbairn's wind-blown 46-yard attempt sailed wide left, his third miss of the season. The Texans eschewed a field-goal try earlier in the game when interim head coach Romeo Crennel opted to go for it on fourth down inside the Browns' five-yard line, an attempt that proved unsuccessful. Fairbairn returns home, where the conditions will be more favorable, in Week 11 against the Patriots.

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Connects from 54 yards Fairbairn successfully converted two of two field-goal attempts and all three extra-point kicks in Sunday's 27-25 win over Jacksonville.

Impact One of Fairbairn's field goals was from long range, a season-high 54-yarder, his second boot from beyond the 50-yard-line in 2020. The nine points was Fairbairn's highest total since Week 5, the last time Houston faced Jacksonville.

NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Missed second FGA Fairbairn converted two of three field-goal attempts and both extra-point kicks in Sunday's 35-20 loss to the Packers.

Impact Fairbairn shanked a 38-yard attempt, just his second miss of the season, but benefitted from two stalled red zone trips to register eight points. It was the third time in the last four games he's had multiple field goals.

OCTOBER 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Scores six points in OT loss Fairbairn converted his lone field-goal attempt and three of four extra-point kicks in Sunday's 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans.

Impact Fairbairn's first missed extra point of the season turned out to be costly. Had he made the kick, Texans head coach Romeo Crennel would not have felt the need to go for a two-point conversion later (it failed). The kicker's six-point effort snapped a two-game run in which he posted double-digit points and converted all six field-goal tries. The difference against Tennessee was the Texans ability to finish drives. They scored touchdowns on all four of their red zone looks, reversing a trend that had them settling for field goals on four of five red-area appearances the previous two weeks. Fairbairn currently ranks 20th in scoring among kickers with 7.3 points per game.

OCTOBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE