The Houston Texans were fortunate to have Dare Ogunbowale active for the third time in 2023.
The reserve running back provided the Texans’ with a much-needed 29-yard field goal throughout Houston’s thrilling 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at NRG Stadium. Ogunbowale also handled kickoff duties in place of an injured Ka’imi Fairbairn.
According to Peter King from NBC Sports, Ogunbowale was his pick for one of two special teams players of the week.
Dare Ogunbowale, running back/kicker, Houston. For the first time in 19 years, an NFL player who is not a kicker made a field goal in a game. After Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn suffered a quad injury in the first half against Tampa, Ogunbowale took over kicking duties and booted a 29-yard field goal in a 39-37 win for the Texans. Also notable: His kickoff with seconds to go, after the Texans took the 39-37 lead, made it to the end zone and handed the Bucs a very long field with six seconds to go. “Dare is our player of the game,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said.
Although in preseason, the last time a non-kicker handled such duties for Houston was in the 2021 exhibition finale against the Bucs at NRG Stadium. Safety Justin Reid kicked in place of Fairbairn, who sustained an injury pregame warmups.
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