One of the best seasons for a rookie quarterback in recent memory is likely derailed because of a serious knee injury suffered in practice on Wednesday.
Reports from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN said Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a torn ACL in practice on a non-contact play.
In arguably the best game of the NFL season, Watson passed for 402 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday in the Texans’ 41-38 loss at Seattle.
Earlier Thursday, Watson became the first rookie quarterback to ever win AFC Offensive Player of the Month. He also was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
In six games, Watson passed for 1,699 yards and is tied for the NFL lead in passing touchdowns with 19.
Watson led Clemson to a national championship earlier this year as the Tigers beat Alabama.
Houston traded up from No. 25 to select Watson with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
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
Deshaun Watson did tear his ACL, per source. Tests on-site revealed tear. @rapsheet first mentioned this possibility.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 2, 2017
As freshman at Clemson, Deshaun Watson suffered torn ACL in practice — then went out & beat South Carolina: 14-of-19 for 269 yds, 4 total TD
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) November 2, 2017
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
