Receiver Fuller questionable at best for playoff game Watt will be playing ‘quite a bit’ Saturday
Wide receiver Will Fuller is officially questionable for a Saturday afternoon playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.
And his designation could just as well have been doubtful.
Fuller was limited in practice all week by a groin injury. The team will see how he responds in the next two days, but it’s considered extremely difficult for him to make it back in two weeks from what’s typically a threeweek injury.
Fuller is still dealing with muscle tightness and would stand a much greater chance of not aggravating the injury next week, if the Texans beat the Bills and advance.
If Fuller can’t go Saturday or is limited, the Texans will lean heavily on DeAndre Hopkins as well as Kenny Stills and DeAndre Carter, with Keke Coutee likely to be active.
Defensive end J.J. Watt will complete his comeback from a torn pectoral Saturday when he’ll play for the first time since getting hurt against the Oakland Raiders in October.
Watt was upgraded to full participation Thursday.
“He’s playing,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’ll be in there quite a bit.”
Watt has been able to do everything he wanted to do in practice this week. He will wear a protective harness in the game.
“It felt like football, it felt like how it’s supposed to feel,” Watt said. “It felt great to be out there, to be hitting pads, to be working on all the things I want to work on: bull rush, tackle, pass-rush moves. It just feels good, feels like I’m home.”
Hyde and Johnson enjoy postseason
Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson endured years of losing and games that lacked high stakes.
The Texans’ running backs are more than ready for a new experience and destination as they prepare for the first playoff game of their respective careers.
“It feels good; it’s exciting,” Hyde said. “It’s like the first day of school for me.”
Acquired via a trade from the Chiefs, Hyde has rushed for a career-high 1,070 yards this season after bouncing around over the past year from the Browns, Jaguars and the Chiefs.
Johnson has rushed for 410 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry since arriving via a trade from the Browns in August. He also caught 44 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns on 62 targets.
“Coming into this year, I kind of figured that was the expectation around here,” Johnson said. “Every team in the league strives to be here. It’s a blessing and an honor to be here.”
Bills cornerback faces his old team
The major caveat surrounding cornerback Kevin Johnson when he was with the Texans always dealt with his iffy health, not his football skills.
The former first-round draft pick was frequently injured, dealing with two serious concussions during his final year with the team last season.
After the Texans released him in March, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Bills, where he was reunited with former Texans secondary coach John Butler.
This figures to be a lot of extra feeling for Johnson, who is expected to play extensively since Levi Wallace is dealing with an ankle injury.
“I’m definitely going to be feeling some emotions,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to play. At the same time, I’m a professional and my goal is to win the game.”
Johnson has gotten stronger, particularly in the upper body, and has played in every game for the first time since his rookie season in 2015. He has 36 tackles, one sack and five passes defensed this season with one start.
“Kevin’s playing really well,” Bill O’Brien said of Johnson, who had 122 tackles, 14 passes defensed and one interception for the Texans. “He’s healthy. He does a really job of transitioning. He does a good job of ball-hawking. He’s doing a lot things for Buffalo and doing a good job.”