The Houston Texans passing game took a blow on Monday evening when receiver Will Fuller announced he would be suspended six games for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing drug policy.
Fuller will miss the final five games of the 2020 season, and Week 1 of 2021, presuming the Texans do not qualify for the playoffs, a feat seemingly impossible without their No. 1 target.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson says the offense has no choice but to move on from the disappointment of being without Fuller, who leads the team with 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns.
“We don’t have no choice but to move on,” Watson said. “All the stuff we’ve dealt with through this organization over the years, you’ve just got to keep pushing and keep moving forward.”
Saying the team has to press on doesn’t mean that Watson is turning his back on Fuller by any means; the two-time Pro Bowler still has affinity for the former 2016 first-round pick from Notre Dame.
“Will knows that we all love him,” said Watson. “He always do the right thing and that one slip up, just got popped. We’re always going to have his back. Will’s my brother. The whole organization knows that, too. Make sure that we get him back for next year, especially in this organization. But that’s a whole other story and topic. But yeah, we’ve got to move on.”
The Texans take on the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium to open up their two-game series with their AFC South rivals. If Houston is to end their season on a five-game winning streak and vie for a playoff spot, it begins with beating the Colts Sunday without Fuller.
“We’ve got a quick five weeks that’s going to hit us this month and it’s big games,” said Watson. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re focused and locked in on those opponents.”
