Deshaun Watson Torn ACL: Quarterback out for Season With Injury

Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with a season-ending injury during practice Thursday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Watson suffered a torn ACL in a non-contact drill.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the injury will require surgery, and he Watson will miss the remainder of the season.

Schefter said that Watson went down with a non-contact injury while running read-option drill. He didn’t yell, but was helped off the field and to the training facility by team doctors.

The injury is terrible news for the Texans, whose offense was thriving with Watson at quarterback. The rookie, drafted No. 12 overall out of Clemson in April, was coming off the best game of his young career Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He threw for 402 yards with 4 touchdowns, but Houston lost the game in the final minutes, 41-38.

Watson was on a tear heading into Week 9, throwing for 1,699 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions — a 103 quarterback rating — and the Texans were starting to look like the best offense in the NFL. He led all NFL players with 21 total touchdowns and was tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Texans only had one other quarterback on their roster, Tom Savage, and he will get the start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, coach Bill O’Brien said after Thursday’s practice. Savage started the first game of the season, but was unimpressive. He threw for just 62 yards in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Houston futher addressed the issue minutes after Watson’s injury diagnosis by making a free agent signing. Schefter reported that they signed free agent quarterback Matt McGloin, who last played for the Oakland Raiders last season.

There’s also been speculation that the Texans will bring in free agent Colin Kaepernick for a workout, as reported by Howard Balzer of RotoWorld.

However, that speculation was later reported to be a “joke” by Balzer.

Watson’s injury is another in a long line of serious injuries for the Texans this season. Earlier this year, the Texans lost All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt to a season-ending fractured ankle and linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a torn pectoral muscle.

The Texans are scheduled to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Houston.

Read More From Heavy

Deshaun Watson ACL Injury: Will the Texans Sign Colin Kaepernick?