Fuller may be a game-time decision
Texans coach Bill
O’Brien was noncommittal on the status of starting wide receiver Will Fuller heading into the seasonopener Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Fuller has been limited all week with a strained hamstring he sustained during the preseason. He’s officially listed as questionable on the injury report.
That sets the stage for a potential game-time decision to determine if or how much Fuller will play. “We’ll see,” O’Brien said. “We’ll see how the next couple days go.”
If Fuller can’t go or is limited, the Texans will lean heavily on Bruce Ellington as well as rookie
Vyncint Smith opposite All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
An undrafted free agent from Division II Limestone College, Smith has run the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds. He caught a gamewinning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the preseason.
“I don’t know about his role,” O’Brien said. “Look, he’s a guy that’s coming from Limestone College to here and he’s really done a good job relatively speaking to being a rookie. He’s got to keep doing it every day.”
Meanwhile, it’s been a frustrating time for rookie wide receiver Keke Coutee.
The fourth-round draft pick from Texas Tech missed the entire preseason with hamstring injury that has limited him this week in practice.
Coutee is making progress, but he isn’t complete- ly back and is questionable. So is wide receiver
Sammie Coates with hamstring injury.
CB Johnson is cleared to play
Texans starting cornerback Kevin Johnson has been cleared under the NFL concussion protocol.
“I’m feeling 100 percent,” Johnson said. “It feels real good to be cleared and to come out and play in this first game. It’s part of the game. I feel blessed that it wasn’t anything serious and I’m very excited and looking forward to playing against Tom Brady.”
Rookie Ejiofor ready for debut
Texans rookie outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor established himself during the preseason as a specialteams contributor and a situational pass rusher, earning a roster spot.
He had three quarterback hits against the Kansas City Chiefs. He had a tackle for a loss and a special-teams tackle against the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, the Alief Taylor graduate and sixth-round draft pick from Wake Forest is primed for his first regular-season game Sunday against the New England Patriots.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Ejiofor, who is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. “To get an opportunity to play against the New England Patriots, that’s going to be one heck of an experience. Every game, it’s an honor to represent Houston and my family and friends.”
Six are named team captains
The Texans have named six team captains for the season.
That includes new safety Tyrann Mathieu, second-year quarterback
Deshaun Watson and veteran defensive end J.J.
Watt, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, cornerback ace
“I’m extremely grateful,” Mathieu said. “I’m very fortunate to really come into a good situation, a good locker room. I didn’t really have to do anything but really be myself and that’s all I’ve been trying to do since April.”
Mathieu has been named the NFL Players Association Community Most Valuable Player for this week.
Mathieu delivered 250 backpacks filled with school supplies to kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston. The NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to Mathieu’s foundation or charity of choice along with a donation to him from Delta.
Mathieu also donated 250 backpacks to students in his hometown of New Orleans.
“It’s a blessing,” he said. “We try to do a lot of different things in the community, always trying to reach out, always trying to help.”