HOUSTON – The Texans are signing veteran kicker Matt Ammendola to their practice squad after a workout with regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn sidelined with a short-term quadriceps strain, per league sources.
Fairbairn left the game Sunday during a 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was replaced by emergency kicker Dare Ogunbowale, a running back who made a key 29-yard field goal and handled kickoffs for the entire second half. Fairbairn is expected to miss at least a few weeks, per a league source, and the Texans can elevate Ammendola from the practice squad while their regular kicker is sidelined.
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Fairbairn is having an outstanding season, making 18 of 19 field goals this year.
The Texans are also re-signing nickel-safety Grayland Arnold to their active roster, per a league source, with safety M.J. Stewart’s shoulder injury regarded as a long-term recovery. The Texans are placing defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway on injured reserve due to a torn Achilles suffered in Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers, per a league source.
The Texans later officially signed Arnold and Ammendola and placed Stewart and Ridgeway on injured reserve and signed defensive back Brady Breeze to the practice squad, releasing center Lecitus Smith.
Arnold is a former undrafted free agent from Baylor. The native of Kountze, Texas has played in seven games for the Texans this season and was recently released. He has 18 tackles and one forced fumble. For his career, Arnold has 33 tackles, two for losses in 25 games and one start.
Ammendola was signed by the Texans to kick during the preseason last year when Fairbairn had a leg injury. He made a 45-yard field goal and missed a 31-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers.
Ammendola, 26, has had stints with the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. He has made 18 of 26 career field goals with a long kick of 49 yards.
Ammendola played collegiately at Oklahoma State. The Pennsylvania native made 20 of 26 field goals as a senior.
With theJets, he was cut in 2021 after hitting 13 of 19 field goals and 14 of 15 extra points through 11 games. He was signed to the practice squad after being released, then signed to a reserve-future deal before being released.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com