Houston Texans Rookie Quarterback Deshaun Watson Tears ACL in Practice, Done for the Season
The good news is that the Houston Texans have already found their franchise quarterback. The bad news is that he won't be playing any more games this season.
The Texans have confirmed that rookie Deshaun Watson tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee in a non-contact drill during practice on Thursday, and he will have to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the damage.
"They say you never miss it until it's gone and even though it's not gone for long. I already miss it. Yesterday, I felt like I let my teammates, my fans and my family down. However, as a child of God, I understand that everything happens for a reason. He DON'T make mistakes!" Watson said in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Friday.
"I promise that I will continue to work diligently so that this team can one day bring a championship to Houston, and when I return, I will be better, stronger and more focused than ever before!" he added.
This just goes to show that in football, fortunes can change in a blink of an eye.
For weeks now, all everyone could talk about was how Watson has taken the league by storm in his rookie campaign. The former Clemson University standout was a legitimate star in the making and he has been doing things no other rookie quarterback has done in the National Football League (NFL). Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman even claimed that Watson was the best quarterback they have ever faced following their thrilling 41–38 win over the Texans last Sunday.
This is a massive blow for a team that has already lost key players like four-time first-team All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt (fracture in left leg), and second-team All-Pro outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (torn pectoral muscle).
Watson has a bright future ahead of him, but fans will now have to wait until next season to see more of him.