Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending ACL tear in practice Thursday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Watson, who was the leading Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, was hurt on a non-contact play, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
He underwent on-site tests to confirm what the team had feared, and will undergo surgery with the expectation of returning for the 2018 campaign, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
The Texans officially added Watson, who was named Offensive Player of the Month earlier in the day, to the injury report with a knee injury and a limited designation.
With 19 touchdowns and 1,699 yards so far this year, Watson was on pace to break the rookie record for passing scores set by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson at 26.
The rookie passer suffered a torn ACL at the end of his freshman year at Clemson in 2014 against South Carolina, finishing the game before undergoing surgery. The latest injury occurred on the opposite knee to the one he injured in college, reports Rapoport.
Tom Savage is expected to take over as the Texans' starting quarterback.
