HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans rushes with the ball as Karl Klug #97 of the Tennessee Titans pursues in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Deshaun Watson’s season is over.
The Houston Texans rookie quarterback ruptured his ACL during practice on Thursday, and is set to undergo surgery.
Watson — Houston’s 22-year-old No. 12 overall pick in this year’s draft out of Clemson — suffered the injury during a non-contact drill. however, he is expected to return in time for the start of the 2018 season.
The Texans (3-4) will thus turn to backup Tom Savage to start in Sunday’s home matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
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Watson has thrown for 1,699 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his NFL career thus far. He finished third and second in the Heisman Trophy voting for the 2015 and 2016 seasons respectively. After eight weeks, he led the league in TOTAL QBR (quarterback running points) with 81.9, 7.9 points ahead of second-place Dak Prescott. He also tied the league rookie touchdown record.
Houston has won the AFC South and reached the playoffs the past two seasons. Nevertheless, the Texans struggled last season with Brock Osweiler as passer, and after just one campaign, he was sent back to the Denver Broncos.
As of Week 9, there are six starting quarterbacks sidelined with injuries or for other reasons: Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Sam Bradford, Carson Palmer and Ryan Tannehill. Jay Cutler, who is replacing Tannehill, would be the seventh should he sit out the Miami Dolphins’ home contest against the Oakland Raiders.
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 01: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans rushes with the ball as Karl Klug #97 of the Tennessee Titans pursues in the second quarter at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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