Houston’s standout rookie quarterback had provided a spark for a team that has lost a number of significant players to injury.
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice Thursday, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
The rookie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and will go on injured reserve. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the injury.
Thursday night’s NFL game between the Bills and Jets did not end before deadline. For results see pressherald.com/sports
His injury is the latest blow to a team that lost three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J. Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus to season-ending injuries Oct. 8.
The former Clemson standout had been a bright spot in a challenging season for the Texans (3-4). The 12th overall pick in this year’s draft was the AFC offensive player of the month after throwing for 1,171 yards with 16 touchdowns, and running for 145 yards and another score.
Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney talked about Watson’s injury, and noted that he rebounded from the same injury when he was with the Tigers.
“I talked to Deshaun late this afternoon and we are disappointed,” Swinney said. “But he’s a person who has had some setbacks in his life and always comes back stronger. Since he went through the rehab before, he knows what it takes.”
Watson also tore his ACL in 2014 as a freshman at Clemson.
“All he did after the injury in 2014 was come back and lead us to the national championship game twice and of course we won it last year,” Swinney said. “He started all 30 games the last two years here. I have no doubt he will come back from this. He has the resolve. His work ethic and drive are incredible.”
After having surgery in January for a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, Luck missed all of Indianapolis’ offseason workouts, all of training camp, the entire preseason and now the entire 16-game regular season.
The lawyers told the 2nd U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that it should not interfere with Elliott beginning his suspension Sunday when the Cowboys play Kansas City at home because the NFL Players Association “has no likelihood of success on appeal.”
The union has asked the court to block the start of the suspension until it considers its request to overturn a lower-court ruling on the grounds that Elliott’s career will be irreparably harmed if his suspension begins now.
The league said in a written submission that the public, including NFL fans and victims of abuse, have a “strong interest” in seeing that penalties stemming from domestic abuse by NFL players are promptly investigated and discipline is imposed in a timely manner.
The quarterback practiced again, throwing for the second straight day in preparation to face New Orleans.
This is the first time Winston has thrown early in the week since spraining the AC joint in his right shoulder on Oct. 15.
His return begins a three-week window in which the Chiefs must decide whether to activate Hali or shut him down for the season. The 33-year-old Hali missed the offseason program and all of training camp to rest and rehabilitate his ailing knees.
The Chiefs, who visit Dallas on Sunday, could use Hali’s help after losing Dee Ford to a back injury in Monday night’s game against Denver. Ford hasn’t practiced this week.
Giants CEO John Mara called her a “great lady who led an extraordinary life that touched so many people.” He lauded her as an “outstanding role model for her wonderful family and for all of us who knew her.”
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