The Houston Texans will be without receiver Will Fuller as they take on the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.
No big deal — the results of the rematch are negligible from the Texans’ perspective as they won the AFC South and can’t get out of wild-card weekend as it is.
However, Fuller is slated to miss the club’s wild-card game during the weekend of Jan. 4-5. Now, that is a big deal.
For quarterback Deshaun Watson, it means the rest of the receiving corps has to elevate their game in the absence of the 2016 first-round pick.
“Really just the next guy step up,” Watson told reporters Thursday. “So, if that’s whoever is playing a position or has the opportunity to step in and play that role, you definitely can’t be Will Fuller but you can be the best of yourself and we’re definitely going to do that.”
Watson’s words of advice for the rest of the receiving corps is fairly straightforward.
Said Watson: “Just be decisive, precise and on the same page with myself while we’re on the field. Seeing everything through the same set of my eyes and if not, me helping to communicate, try to react to the things that they do and get the ball to the open guy.”
Receiver DeAndre Hopkins has no trouble with that assignment as he has collected 104 catches for 1,165 yards and seven touchdowns. Receivers Kenny Stills, Keke Coutee, and DeAndre Carter will have to be on the same page of the playbook with the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who has confidence in all of his receivers.
“We’ll be just fine,” said Watson. “We definitely want Will out there but he’s going to rehab and get better and hopefully we have him the next time.”
It is unclear how many reps Watson and Fuller’s replacements will have together in the showdown with the Titans, who the Texans have swept four times in series history. While coach Bill O’Brien intends to coach his players to win the game, staying healthy for the postseason has to be a prime objective.
