Texans kicker Ka'imi Faibairn was officially placed on injured reserve with a pulled groin, an injury setback sustained prior to a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now, Fairbairn has to miss at least three weeks
The Texans signed kicker Joey Slye to their practice squad and are expected to promote him to replace Fairbairn on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Slye tried out for the Texans on Monday along with kicker Michael Badgley.
Slye played at Virginia Tech and has made 54 of 68 career field goals in the NFL, a 79.4 percentage with the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans cut linebacker Hardy Nickerson from the practice squad and officially signed cornerback Cre'von LeBlanc to the practice squad one day after claiming cornerback Jimmy Moreland off waivers from the Washington Football Team.
Texans coach David Culley acknowledged the obvious, stating that embattled Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson will not play Sunday in the season opener.
Watson has a standing trade request and is also facing 22 civil lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints alleging sexual misconduct and/or sexual assault with no trade imminent or developing, according to sources.
Texans starting right offensive tackle Charlie Heck is also out for this week after testing positive for COVID-19. Marcus Cannon, who has made significant progress since being activated from the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason arthroscopic knee surgery and dealing with a strained calf, is preparing to play right tackle.
As a vaccinated player, Heck has to pass two consecutive PCR tests and be asymptomatic to be cleared to play. He is currently on the reserve-COVID-19 list.
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 years and has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128
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