The Houston Texans have not been getting it done as a kicking team. Third-year place kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has shown regression in 2019 after leading the NFL in scoring in 2018. In turn, the Texans have watched easy points fall off the board.
On the year, Fairbairn is 13 for 18 on field goals (72.2%) and 24 for 29 on extra points (82.8%). On Sunday, he missed a 43-yarder in a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Those, in the NFL, are unacceptable numbers.
If the Texans see Fairbairn’s struggles as a reason to replace him, it won’t be easy. The kicker market, as it usually is in Nov., is barren. Nonetheless, here are three options Bill O’Brien and Co. should consider going into Week 12’s Thursday game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Greg Joseph
A 69.5% field goal kicker at Florida Atlantic, Greg Joseph landed with the Miami Dolphins after going undrafted in 2018. Then, as the replacement to Zane Gonzalez in Cleveland, Joseph served as the Browns’ kicker for 14 games in 2018.
In Cleveland, Joseph drilled 85% of his 20 field goal attempts, missing two from the 40-49 range, and one from 50+. He drilled a game-winning 37-yarder in Week 5. His shortfalls ultimately came down to extra point kicking, as he went 25 for 29 (86.2%) as a rookie. He is now a member of the XFL’s Seattle Dragons.
Elliott Fry
Nearly the Chicago Bears’ kicker for 2019, Elliott Fry lost the NFL’s most infamous kicking job to Eddy Piñeiro in the preseason. He drilled a 43-yarder with the Bears and missed one from 47 yards. Before Chitown, Fry was a perfect 14 for 14 in the now-defunct AAF, playing for the Orlando Apollos.
At South Carolina (undrafted in 2017), Fry was a consistent presence, making 99.4% of his extra points and 75% of field goal attempts. He also set the school record for points. Now, like Joseph, Fry is in the XFL, playing from the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Chase McLaughlin
Chase McLaughlin, a rookie, is currently kicking for the San Francisco 49ers. Why is he a candidate to land in Houston? Robbie Gould. Gould, a Pro Bowler, is dealing with a quad injury. He was questionable in Week 11 but may return in Week 12. If so, the expectation is the 49ers releasing McLaughlin.
If and when McLaughlin is released, the Texans should be interested. Though he famously missed an overtime field goal in Week 10’s “Monday Night Football,” let’s not forget that he drilled a 47-yarder to force overtime.
Between two teams in 2019 (other being the Los Angeles Chargers), McLaughlin is 10 for 14 on field goals (71.4%) while not missing an extra point. At Illinois, he made 74.6% of his field goals while not missing an extra point. He won the Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year award in 2019, given to the BIG 10’s best kicker.
