The Houston Texans, and most of the NFL world, got gut-wrenching news on Thursday as Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered an ACL tear in his right knee during practice. Watson threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns, and he was recently named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month and AFC Rookie of the Month.
Dabo Swinney has ‘no doubt’ Deshaun Watson will bounce back from ACL injury
The QB started 35 games for Clemson during his college career.
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
The former first-round draft pick was selected by the Texans from Clemson, where he had a brilliant career under head coach Dabo Swinney for three seasons as a two-time Heisman finalist and national champion. After the news of Watson’s injury broke, Swinney had some great things to say about his former QB:
“I talked to Deshaun late this afternoon and we are disappointed,” Swinney said via Clemson football on Twitter. “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.”
When Watson was a true freshman starter at Clemson in 2014, he actually beat South Carolina 35-17 while playing with a torn ACL in his left knee. He had surgery, went through rehab, and was the Tigers’ starter in 2015.
“This is so similar to the 2014 season, his freshman year at Clemson,” Swinney said. “In his first career start against North Carolina, he threw a school record six touchdown passes, then he had four more (two rushing and two passing) the next week against NC State. Then he suffered an injury during the Georgia Tech game.”
Now he leads the NFL in touchdown passes and this happens,” Swinney continued. “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. 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.”
A lot of Watson’s former teammates sent him condolences on social media.
And some other big-name players sent their thoughts to him, too:
Get well soon, Deshaun!
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