In an NFL season that has been somewhat devoid of massive, crossover storylines, there may have been no more exciting or compelling player the Deshaun Watson. The Houston Texans rookie quarterback put up huge numbers, made remarkable plays, led a so-so team to some impressive wins and generally looked like a budding superstar.
But those sentences are now confined to past tense, because Watson’s season is likely over. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the quarterback tore his ACL in practice Thursday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that the injury occurred when he fell to the ground on a routine drill.
Sources: #Texans QB fear Deshaun Watson suffered a torn ACL in practice today. A non-contact injury. MRI coming to confirm. Awful, awful.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2017
Potentially heading for a rookie of the year campaign, #Texans QB Deshaun Watson now faces the prospect of being out for the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 2, 2017
Deshaun Watson went down on a normal drill, running a read option, on a grass field, per source. Didn’t yell, trainers took him off field.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 2, 2017
Losing Watson for the season is painful for the Texans, but it must be even worse to know it happened entirely at random, on a seemingly regular play during a seemingly regular practice.
It has been a tough year all-around for the NFL. Watson joins J.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, David Johnson, Odell Beckham and others among popular NFL stars who have suffered season-ending injuries.
The partial list of this season’s NFL fallen: pic.twitter.com/MklwrpCn0Q
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 2, 2017
So Watson will apparently end the season having completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns, ranking second in the league in yards per attempt with 11.8. What was on track to be a rookie year for the record books will instead be remembered for the stolen possibilities. All Watson and the Texans can hope for is a quick and full recovery that gets him back on the field some time next season and leaves him as dynamic and athletic as he was before. Fingers in Houston and beyond are tightly crossed.
As for Houston fans, who have fallen in love with Watson during his rookie season, at least you have the Astros.
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