Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice Thursday.
The rookie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and will go on injured reserve.
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 is 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."
Luck out for year
What had become increasingly inevitable was made official Thursday when the Colts announced they were placing quarterback Andrew Luck on the injured reserve list, declaring Luck's season over before it ever began.
The 2017 season goes down as a total washout for Luck and, almost surely, the Colts. The once-so-bright future of Luck and the Colts has been clouded considerably. When and if he returns to the team next season, the prospect he will take the franchise to Super Bowls while crafting a Hall-of-Fame career is far less certain than it once seemed.
"I wish I was better and 100 percent this season, but that's not the case," Luck told the team's website. "I know I'll be better from this. I know I'll be a better quarterback, teammate, person and player from this, and I'm excited for the future."
