Tag: Ka’imi Fairbairn

Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn remains steady entering 2022

Houston Texans special teams coach Frank Ross says kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has been steady throughout offseason workouts.

The Houston Texans’ roster has undergone massive upheaval since 2021, but the one steady element has been kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

The former 2016 undrafted free agent from UCLA had his own struggles last season. A groin injury and a positive COVID-19 test limited him to 13 games, and Fairbairn posted a career-low 78.9% field goal percentage (15-19). Fairbairn also posted a career-low extra point percentage at 81.3% (13-16).

Despite Fairbairn’s struggles, special teams coordinator Frank Ross thought the 2018 NFL scoring leader persisted through the setbacks.

“I thought Ka’imi had a strong year and I think that every single player out here wants to improve whatever their craft is,” Ross told reporters June 15 at mandatory minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center. “His is obviously more finite skills set.”

According to Ross, what the Texans want for Fairbairn is for him in 2022 is to continue to “grow his body.”

Said Ross: “He is 27, 28 years old. As you get into that, you want to be a sustainable strength as much as possible. Just working on legs, feet, and overall strength. He’s done a great job of trying to implement that throughout the spring. Hopefully he continues that through the break here.”

The Texans went with Joey Slye for the first three games of the season and then had Dominik Eberle fill in for Fairbairn in Week 16 when Fairbairn was in the COVID protocol.

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Texans place three players on COVID-19 reserve, TE Jeff Driskel on injured reserve

The Houston Texans placed three players on COVID-19 reserve and also tight end Jeff Driskel on injured reserve.

Houston Texans coach David Culley said it was coming, and the official report finally came on Wednesday afternoon.

“There could possibly be some coming on,” Culley told reporters on Wednesday. “We have a couple of players that are getting re-tested right now. That way we will know a little bit more, probably after 30 to 60 minutes, however long it takes them to get the test. But there are some more guys that are being tested. They are voluntarily being tested.”

The Texans placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve: receiver Brandin Cooks, linebacker Eric Wilson, and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. Assuredly the trio will miss the Week 16 tilt with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston also placed tight end Jeff Driskel, who was on the practice squad, on injured reserve.

Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn says 61-yard field goal would have been sweeter in a win

Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn liked nailing a 61-yard field goal, but would have enjoyed it more in a win.

Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has always had the leg. However, the trick with field goals of 50-plus yards is accuracy, not so much the distance.

On the last play of the first half, the Texans sent Fairbairn out to try a 61-yard field goal. The former 2015 Lou Groza Award winner connected to set the Texans’ record for longest field goal and chip into Seattle Seahawks’ lead 16-13 at the break.

Ultimately, those would be the Texans’ last points of the game as they succumbed 33-13 to the Seahawks in Week 14 at NRG Stadium.

Fairbairn was pleased to etch his name in franchise annals, but was looking for more.

“It was pretty sweet,” said Fairbairn. “Felt good coming off the foot and I just wish we got the win it would have been that much sweeter.”

According to Fairbairn, who says he has hit from 65 yards in practice “on a good day,” he went through the same routine as a closer kick.

“Obviously it’s a little longer so I tried to get more behind it, but pretty much same routine,” Fairbairn said.”

The former 2016 undrafted free agent from UCLA is 11-14 on field goals with a 7-10 rate on extra points. Fairbairn had to work his way back from a preseason groin injury that affected his accuracy.

Nevertheless the Texans stuck with him.

Said Fairbairn: ““I think just riding the waves of ups and downs; learning from each opportunity whether it’s make or miss. Try to learn more from the misses. It’s a lot of mental game for me and I try to work on that through the week and take one rep at a time. I’ve been lucky to have good teammates, good coaches that believe in me and throw me out there for a 61-yarder. Lucky to make it.”

The Texans had the roof open at NRG Stadium, but Fairbairn did not believe it had too much of an effect on aiding his record-setting field goal.

“I’m not too sure,” said Fairbairn. “There was a little swirl with the wind in there, but played it right and made it through.”

WATCH: Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn nails 61-yard field goal against the Seahawks

Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 61-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14.

Ka’imi Fairbairn has always had the leg; sometimes, he just doesn’t have the accuracy.

With four seconds left until halftime, Houston Texans coach David Culley decided to let Fairbairn try a 61-yard field goal before the break. The Texans’ kicker split the uprights and gave Houston a little momentum as they trailed the Seattle Seahawks 16-13 at halftime at NRG Stadium.

On the season, Fairbairn was 9-of-12 entering Sunday’s game. The 61-yard field goal is a team record.

Special teams coach Frank Ross told reporters on Nov. 18, when Fairbairn was in the midst of a slump, that he was not worried about the kicker.

“The guy shows up every day to work,” Ross said. “Let’s say there are five or six kicks in a field goal set, and he doesn’t feel good with one of them, he’ll go and get that extra work in. Going to continue to see him every single day improve on any mishit he may or may not have. I’m happy with where he is at and he knows it’s one kick at a time, as we all do.”

Texans vs. Seahawks second quarter recap: Seattle pulling away 16-13

The Houston Texans chipped away at the Seattle Seahawks’ second quarter lead, 16-13.

Texans vs. Seahawks first quarter recap

Texans 3rd drive (16 plays, 72 yards, 8:55) — Houston responded well and didn’t panic, even after facing a second-and-16. Rookie QB Davis Mills kept calm and distributed the football. The Texans picked up a third-and-8 with a WR Brandin Cooks reception, but he was determined to have committed pass interference. Houston settled for a K Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal, but the Seahawks roughed snapper Jon Weeks. Although the field goal was good, Houston took points off the board to keep the drive going. Cooks seemed to score a touchdown, but the booth review determined he was a yard short, but it did give Houston a first-and-goal. However, rookie TE Brevin Jordan committed illegal formation and pushed the Texans back second-and-goal from the 5-yard line. Houston can’t punch it in and have to settle for the original Fairbairn field goal anyway, this time from 21 yards out. 10-10

Seahawks 3rd drive (7 plays, 33 yards, 4:09) — Aside from the first drive, the Seahawks defense has had no issue moving the football against Houston’s defense. QB Russell Wilson, who is the fourth-most pressured quarterback in the NFL entering Week 14 with 27.7% of his dropbacks resulting in pressures, faces no problem with the Houston pass rush. The Seahawks do make use of the field position after Houston stops them on third-and-5 from the Texans’ 43-yard line by backing them up at the 2.

Texans 4th drive (3 plays, 6 yards, 0:56) — Houston gives it to RB Rex Burkhead twice and forces the Seahawks to burn two of their three timeouts. On a third-and-9 from their own 3-yard line, Mills rushes out of bounds to stop the clock with 1:07 to go until halftime.

Seahawks 4th drive (1 play, 55 yards, 0:08) — All it takes is one play as Wilson hits WR Tyler Lockett for a touchdown. K Jason Myers misses the extra point wide left. Seahawks, 16-10

Texans 5th drive (6 plays, 15 yards, 0:52) — The Texans use some razzle dazzle on the kickoff return to get to their own 42-yard line with 41 second until halftime. Houston at least puts three on the board as K Ka’imi Fairbairn nails a 61-yard field goal. Seahawks, 16-13

 

Stats

Texans

Mills: 16/21, 175 yards, TD; 1 carry, 5 yards

Burkhead: 9 carries, 29 yards

Brandin Cooks: 5 catches, 57 yards

Brevin Jordan: 3 catches, 15 yards, TD

 

Seahawks

Wilson: 8/11, 163 yards, TD; 1 carry, 8 yards

Penny: 7 carries, 64 yards, TD

Lockett: 4 catches, 113 yards, TD

Overcompensation may have led to Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn missing extra point in Week 11

Houston Texans special teams coach Frank Ross says overcompensation may have been the reason why Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an extra point in Week 11.

The Houston Texans pulled off the upset in Week 11 when they downed the Tennessee Titans 22-13 in rainy conditions at Nissan Stadium.

The Texans snapped their eight-game losing streak and handed the 8-2 Titans a loss that complicates their quest to shore up the AFC South en route to the No. 1 overall seed.

In the victory, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an extra point on the Texans’ first touchdown of the afternoon. Instead of leading 13-0 with 7:47 to go until halftime, Houston led 12-0.

Ultimately, Fairbairn’s missed extra point came out in the wash as Titans kicker Randy Bullock similarly missed an extra point of his own.

Texans special teams coach Frank Ross wouldn’t make excuses for Fairbairn when he met with the media on Nov. 24, but he did point out that the extra points haven’t exactly been sure things since 2015 when they were moved back to 33 yards.

“You see it across the league, that doesn’t mean anything,” said Ross. “Everybody has to focus on their own players and do their own job.”

Fairbairn is 9-of-11 on field goals in 2021 with a 4-of-7 rate on extra points. Ross suggests the third missed PAT of the season may have been an overcompensation on Fairbairn’s part.

Said Ross: “I’ve said this before, but nobody wants to make the kicks more than himself. He’s working every day to improve any little mishit he may have. There was an overcompensation there pulled it across a little bit. We kick our extra points from the left hash as we see it, and a ball that doesn’t necessarily stay straight or hook is going to be even more emphasized from the left hash that close in.”

Ross has confidence Fairbairn will be on point when they face the New York Jets in Week 12 at NRG Stadium.

“He’s going to continue to work that and hopefully get that right this week,” Ross said.

Texans vs. Dolphins fourth quarter recap: Miami gets the win 17-9

The Houston Texans drop Week 9 to the Miami Dolphins, losing 17-9.

Texans vs. Dolphins first quarter recap

Texans vs. Dolphins second quarter recap

Texans vs. Dolphins third quarter recap

Texans 11th drive (14 plays, 92 yards, 5:40) — [continued] The Texans drive all the way down to the Dolphins’ 2-yard line and get stuffed. Houston elects to kick the field goal. K Ka’imi Fairbairn hits the chip shot 20-yard field goal. Not bad for a drive that saw a third-and-14 from the Texans’ own 4. Dolphins, 17-9

Dolphins 10th drive (8 plays, 28 yards, 3:40) — DE Jacob Martin comes up with a big play to get the strip sack of QB Jacoby Brissett. DT Maliek Collins comes up with the recovery for a first-and-10 at their own 40-yard line.

Texans 12th drive (5 plays, 12 yards, 2:39) — On a first-and-10 from the Dolphins’ 45-yard line, QB Tyrod Taylor gets eaten by the turf monster. Essentially, the drive gets killed as Houston is unable to overcome a third-and-12 from the Dolphins’ 48-yard line. The Texans punt.

Dolphins 11th drive (6 plays, 20 yards, 2:16) — The Texans defense is able to get the Dolphins off the field. Punt is fielded at the Texans’ 19-yard line.

Texans 13th drive (2 plays, 15 yards, 0:29) — On a first-and-10 from the Texans’ 30-yard line, Taylor seemingly completes a pass to TE Jordan Akins, who bobbles it as he corrals into his breadbasket. Dolphins coach Brian Flores threw the challenge flag, and the ruling on the field of an incomplete pass was overturned. Miami recovered.

Dolphins 12th drive (3 plays, 1 yard, 2:01) — With the Texans out of timeouts, the Dolphins go three-and-out, but melt 2:01 off the play clock.

Texans 14th drive (4 plays, 13 yards) — Houston is backed up at their own 2-yard line and can’t get a drive going. The Texans fall to 1-8 while the Dolphins go to 2-7. Bring on the bye.

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Texans coach David Culley explains decision on 56-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal miss

Houston Texans coach David Culley gave an explanation as to why he had kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn attempt a 56-yard field goal.

One of the more puzzling decisions Houston Texans coach David Culley made in the 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots was sending kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn out for a 56-yard field goal.

Houston was ahead 22-15 with the Texans at the Patriots’ 38-yard line with 13:29 to go in the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-4, Culley called a timeout, Houston’s first of the second half.

Were the Texans setting up to go for it? No, they were sending Fairbairn out for the field goal at a distance he was 0-for-3 in his career. His longest field goal made was 55 yards from Dec. 17, 2017, against the San Francisco 49ers.

Culley told reporters after the game that they felt Fairbairn was in range.

“The decision there was the fact that we felt like he was in his range,” Culley said. “He’s our kicker. Got the utmost confidence in him. He had a tough day up to that point but had made one. We felt if we made that field goal it’s a two-score ball game. That’s why I made the decision to kick.”

The miss setup the Patriots first-and-10 from the New England 46-yard line. It only took rookie quarterback Mac Jones seven plays to go 54 yards and tie the game with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hunter Henry.

It wasn’t Fairbairn’s only miss of the game. Houston also had two extra points missed after scoring their first two touchdowns of the game.

Culley is not considering a new kicker despite Fairbairn spending the first three games on injured reserve with a hamstring.

Said Culley: “I haven’t even thought about that.”

The Texans fall to 1-4 on the year, but get back into action on Oct. 17 against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Twitter explodes as Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn misses 3 kicks in 25-22 loss to Patriots

Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed two extra points and a field goal versus the New England Patriots, and Twitter let him have it.

Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn did not have a good day at the office.

The 27-year-old kicker missed two extra points and a field goal against the New England Patriots in the 25-22 loss at NRG Stadium.

Special teams coach Frank Ross told reporters on Sept. 30 that they were confident Fairbairn could return to his kicking duties at full strength.

“I don’t think you’re going to put a player out there that can’t perform to the best of his abilities on any phases or role being asked,” Ross said. “If he’s going to go out there and be our kicker on Sunday, he’s going to be ready to kick whatever his range is. If he can kick from 75 out, we’ll kick from 75 out. We expect him to be at full capacity if he’s out there being our kicker on Sunday.”

Although the Texans are confident Fairbairn is 100% strength, his results were anything but against the Patriots, and Twitter let him have it as Houston falls to 1-4 on the year.