Houston Texans sensation Deshaun Watson, who is tied for the NFL lead in toughdown passes, is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in practice -- a crushing end to the rookie quarterback's splashy NFL debut.
Watson tore his anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, on Thursday. The injury was apparently not the result of a tackle or other contact.
Treatment and rehab could take nine months. That ends his season -- but he is expected to be healed in time to play in 2018.
Watson, who threw for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns in a narrow loss to Seattle, is the first rookie quarterback to win AFC Offensive Player of the Month. He also was October's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.
Watson passed for 1,699 yards and 19 TDs in six games.
He joins J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus as Texans who are shelved for the season.
Backup Tom Savage will likely start Sunday against Indianapolis.