Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is unlikely to be recovered from a strained quadriceps before Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, leading the team to add Matt Ammendola to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Ammendola participated in a workout with the team on Monday as a contingency for Fairbairn, who exited Houston’s Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the leg injury.
Running back Dare Ogunbowale, the Texans’ emergency kicker, gave Houston the lead with a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter last week. He was the first non-kicker to make a field goal since 2004 (Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker).
Ammendola can be elevated to the active roster this week.
The 26-year-old has played for three teams in his career and appeared in 15 total games with 18 field goals in 26 tries. He played in four games last season — two with the Chiefs and two with the Cardinals — and 11 games for the Jets in 2021, making all 11 of his attempts inside of 40 yards but going 2 of 8 from beyond 40.
–Field Level Media