Injuries are piling up for the Houston Texans. However, according to their coach, Bill O’Brien, they may not be as bad as perceived.
On early Monday, the rumor mill flooded with information of wide receiver Will Fuller’s groin injury, which he suffered in Saturday’s 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that he will be out for three weeks.
#Texans speedy WR Will Fuller’s groin injury will keep him off the field in Week 17 and is likely a three-week injury, sources say following tests. Fuller has an outside chance to play in their first playoff game and will likely be available if they win and advance.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2019
O’Brien, on the other hand, does not use the same diction. The coach said on Monday, after the report, that the wide receiver is “day-to-day.”
“I think he’s making progress and I would say right now that’s just a day-to-day. I wouldn’t be able to answer what’s going to happen on Sunday but I think he’s definitely making progress.”
That does not mean that Fuller will play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Considering his injury history it should be a guarantee that he doesn’t. He has either missed or not finished six games in 2019. The Texans will likely use Kenny Stills in his No. 2 role while he is out.
Whether or not that means Fuller will be available for the first round of the playoffs is unknown. On the season, he has 49 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdowns.
2018 Pro Bowl inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney suffered a concussion in Week 15’s win over the Tennessee Titans. He did not play in the contest against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Similar to Fuller, McKinney is day-to-day, according to O’Brien.
“Both of those guys are making progress,” O’Brien said. “Relative to Sunday, I’d say both of those guys are in the day-to-day category.”
McKinney has tallied 101 combined tackles, four tackles for loss and three pass deflections. He wears the green dot on his helmet, indicating that he relays defensive play calls and adjustments to the defense.
While O’Brien calls the two starters day-to-day, officially injury reports will indicate whether or not that is true.