Rookie Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been nearly unstoppable since being anointed the starting quarterback at halftime of the opening game this season, but, a non-contact injury at practice on Thursday is going to end his season prematurely. According to ESPN, Watson tore his ACL when he tripped and fell halfway through practice; season-ending surgery has already been scheduled. Watson was the Texans' first round pick in 2017 and won an NCAA National Championship at Clemson University last year.
Watson's sensational rookie season
Veteran Tom Savage opened the season as the Texans' quarterback, but after an unimpressive first-half of play, was benched in favor of Watson.
The rookie first-round pick had an up-and-down performance over Houston's next two games (1-1), throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions, but against the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, Watson went wild, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another one in a 57-14 beatdown.
Watson proved that Titans game was no fluke the very next week against the formidable Kansas City Chiefs, tossing five touchdown passes in a narrow 34-42 defeat. He then followed that performance up with a three touchdown day in a victory over the Cleveland Browns and then four more touchdowns in a shootout versus Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.
Watson's stretch of games in October was so impressive that he was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
He's the first rookie quarterback ever to earn the accolade. For the season, Watson had thrown for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns. He'd also run for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
What do the Texans do now?
With a 3-4 record, the Texans are still in the playoff hunt, just a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, but, having already lost defensive star JJ Watt and now Watson for the season, the future doesn't look good at all.
In the short them, the Texans will turn the quarterback keys back over to Savage against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday, but, if Savage lasted just a half when he was named the starter to open the season, how much can be expected of him now? The Houston Chronicle reported that the Texans signed quarterback Matt McGloin to backup Savage, but in three NFL seasons, McGloin has only played in 13 games.
One name that will come to many people's mind is Colin Kaepernick. The former 49ers quarterback still hasn't been signed yet this season, and many believe it's because he is the one who started the kneeling protest during the national anthem. Considering the drama Texans owner, Bob McNair, created with his comments (about the protests), "we can't have the inmates running the prison," it would make for a fascinating storyline if they were the team that went in that direction. Their season may depend on it.
