Aug 14, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) receives a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Photo Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON — Will Fuller broke into his route, quickly creating separation behind the San Francisco 49ers’ secondary.
Although the Houston Texans’ rookie wide receiver found himself wide open, quarterback Brock Osweiler didn’t make it to that progression and threw incomplete to Braxton Miller on fourth down to end the drive.
Fuller caught the only pass thrown to him for a four-yard gain in the 24-13 victory over the 49ers on Sunday.
As the first-round draft pick from Notre Dame continues to progress, he’s gaining a comfort level with the playbook and timing with Osweiler.
“A lot more comfortable than I did than when I first got here, but that’s how it always is,” Fuller said. “Getting used to the playbook and just knowing my role and just doing everything the coaches ask of me.”
Fuller, who was signed to a four-year, $10.164 million contract that includes $9.859 million guaranteed, a $5.592 million signing bonus and a standard fifth-year team option, is building his confidence.
Although relatively slender and listed at 6-1, 172 pounds on the roster, Fuller is one of the most athletic players on the defending AFC South champions. He’s honing his pass patterns and getting himself accustomed to the rigors of the game. Fuller absorbed some big hits against the 49ers, but emerged unscathed.
“Yeah, it’s just part of the game,” Fuller said. “I’ve been getting hit all my life. It’s just another hit.”
Fuller probably should have called for a fair catch on a punt return against the 49ers.
“Actually on this I’m wrong, so I’ve got to get up and fair catch that ball instead of taking that hit,” Fuller said. “Good coaching point for me and next time I’ll go up there and catch it.”
Although Fuller is arguably the fastest player on the roster with a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash, he’s learning how to grapple with older, stronger cornerbacks to create separation into the secondary.
“The game was fun,” Fuller said of his NFL debut. “It was good to get out there for the first time, a life-long dream. Just being out there with the guys and running onto the field, an NFL field, it was cool.”
–The sample size of newly minted Texans starting quarterback Brock Osweiler’s body of work is obviously limited.
He started seven games last season, winning five of them for the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos before being replaced by Peyton Manning. The towering former Arizona State quarterback threw 10 touchdowns and six interceptions last season.
It’s not much to go on, but it was enough to leave an impression on New Orleans Saints franchise quarterback Drew Brees. One off the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history with 60,903 career passing yards and 428 touchdowns, Brees has achieved a status that Osweiler wants to reach one day during a joint practice session.
The quarterbacks had a small amount of interaction Thursday during a joint practice.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of time to socialize,” Brees said. “Obviously, I was able to watch what he accomplished last year in Denver and I was very impressed by that. He’s got a great opportunity here with a great team around him in a great system.”
–The importance of Greg Mancz as a backup center just increased exponentially following the high-ankle sprain suffered by rookie starter Nick Martin.
It was Mancz who started against the San Francisco 49ers, not Tony Bergstrom, when Martin was sidelined with a back injury for the Texans’ preseason opener.
It’s Mancz who would likely start the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears if Martin remains out with the ankle injury.
The early revews have been positive on Mancz, an undrafted free agent who spent his rookie season on injured reserve last year with a knee injury that required surgery.
“I think you have to give Greg Mancz a lot of credit,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Here’s a guy that has been really working hard to rehab to get back in there and played a lot of football. Look, there’s a lot of things he needs to improve upon but I thought for not having played in a long time, he went in there and held his own.”
After going undrafted out of Toledo, Mancz impressed the Texans coaching staff and teammates with his work ethic and toughness. The 6-4, 301-pounder played in three games before being placed on injured reserve in November.
“It felt good to get back out there with the guys,” said Mancz, who was flanked by left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo and right guard Jeff Allen. “Having Jeff and X next to me helped calm me down. There’s a lot to work on and I’m excited to work on it. I’m trying to do the best I can right now. It’s been a long offseason, but a lot of vets have helped me. They’ve all been really positive and helpful.”
Mancz was an All-Mid-American Conference selection and a second-team All-American pick from the Football Writers Association of America. Mancz started 47 consecutive games for the Rockets and was a preseason candidate for the Rimington Trophy given to the nation’s top center.
“My knee feels great,” Mancz said. “It’s been a lot of work to get to this point. Everything’s going really well.”
