Fuller Done for the Season
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It seemed to be trending that way for a while now, but it now has become official: Will Fuller V will not be returning to the Miami Dolphins lineup in 2021.
Head coach Brian Flores made the announcement Monday when he conducted his weekly day-after-the-game media session and was asked the obligatory question whether this was the week Fuller would return.
The high-profile free agent acquisition hasn't played since sustaining a finger injury in the 27-17 Week 4 loss against the Indianapolis Colts and being placed on injured reserve days later.
'Will's had some setbacks in his rehab," Flores said. "I don't expect him this week. I don't expect him back this season."
Fuller was signed in the offseason to a one-year contract reportedly worth $10 million and fully guaranteed. He will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason and it's difficult to envision the Dolphins looking to re-sign him.
Fuller will end up playing two games in 2021 — against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Colts — and finishing with four catches for 26 yards in 65 snaps. Perhaps the most noteworthy play of his season came in Week 3 against the Las Vegas when he was the target of a deep incomplete pass from Jacoby Brissett on a play where it looked as though defensive pass interference should have been called.
The Dolphins ended up settling for a game-tying field goal on that drive before the Raiders eventually won, 31-28.
FULLER'S SEASON
Fuller's forgettable season began with him having to sit out the opener against the New England Patriots to finish serving a five-game suspension he was assessed last season when he was with the Houston Texans.
Before the Week 2 game against Buffalo, Fuller left the team for a few days to deal with a personal matter before returning in time to make his Dolphins debut at Las Vegas.
When he was signed, the hope was that Fuller could bring a big-play dimension to the passing game, but that obviously never materialized. His four catches with the Dolphins went for 8, 10, 2 and 6 yards.
He was injured in the second quarter against Indianapolis when he tried (unsuccessfully) to catch a low third-down pass from Brissett.
From that point on, all that happened with Fuller were the regular questions about when he'd be back to help out the offense.
The questions can stop now.
