On September 10, 2017, in the 29–7 season-opening road victory over the Houston Texans, Fowler had a stellar game. He had a 53-yard fumble return for a touchdown near the end of the first half. The touchdown was the first of his NFL career. Late in the third quarter, Fowler forced a fumble off of quarterback Deshaun Watson, which was recovered by teammate Yannick Ngakoue.
On July 18, 2017, Fowler was arrested in St. Petersburg, Florida for simple battery and committing mischief. Fowler confronted a man who commented about his driving, struck the man, broke his glasses, and threw a bag containing liquor into a lake. He was released from jail the next day on a $650 bond. On March 1, 2018, Fowler pleaded no contest to battery, criminal mischief, and petty theft. He was fined $2,575, received a year of probation, and was ordered to undergo 75 hours of community service.