The Houston Texans may have shown their hand as to how kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn may be feeling for the Week 1 encounter with the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The team announced Tuesday they have signed former Carolina Panthers kicker Joey Slye. In a corresponding move, the Texans waived cornerback Cornell Armstrong.
Fairbairn had an injury during the pregame warmups in the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 28. Coach David Culley said that if it were a regular season game, Fairbairn would have been able to go.
With the club working out Slye and Michael Badgley on Monday, and then signing Slye on Tuesday, it is an indication that the club is not taking the injury with Fairbairn too lightly.
Slye was 54-of-68 on field goals for the Panthers in 32 games with 64 extra points on 71 attempts. The former Virginia Tech Hokie also booted 137 touchbacks on 151 kickoffs.
The Panthers released Slye on Aug. 28 after trading for kicker Ryan Santoso.