Texans rookie Deshaun Watson suffers major knee injury in practice
Deshaun Watson could miss the rest of an incredible rookie campaign
Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has reportedly suffered a torn ACL in practice. After NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the team was concerned following a non-contact injury on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed the MRI results from a team source.
After taking the Texans starting job from Tom Savage in the second half of week one Watson has taken the NFL by storm. Perhaps the best game of his career came just last week in Seattle against a ferocious defense when he threw four touchdowns with 469 total yards in a loss.
Since week two with Watson cemented as the Texans starter Houston has outscored their opponents by 49 points. He’d been tied with Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz with a league-high 19 touchdowns this season.
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Houston will likely return to playing Savage this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts, who also learned on Thursday they’ll be without quarterback Andrew Luck for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Luck has yet to take the field in 2017 after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and general manager Rick Smith will have to scour the free agent and practice squad market for a competent backup option. Matt Barkley will be one name mentioned, as will, of course, Colin Kaepernick.
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Unfortunately for Houston the chances of making the playoffs is likely over with Watson out for the season. Sitting one game behind the Titans and Jaguars in the AFC South Houston has little firepower without Watson and their defensive leader J.J. Watt out for the year with his own knee injury.