Brian Cushing injury: Texans LB tears ACL, ending season

If he stays on schedule with rehab, Cushing could be ready to go in time for the start of training camp next season. The average rehab time for an ACL tear is approximately nine months. The fourth-year pro out of USC had amassed 28 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception before being injured.

The former first-round pick was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009 and voted second team All-Pro in 2011 by the Associated Press. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Slauson was not penalized on the play, in which he cut-block Cushing. The linebacker couldn’t see Slauson coming as he went low, cutting down Cushing at the knees. Cushing was several yards away from the ball-carrier when the block was made.

The league has been moving towards guarding against players being taken out low when in a defenseless position, especially in the case of quarterbacks. Cut blocks are penalized on the field when a player is engaged with another blocker, but that was not the case on the play involving Slauson and Cushing.

Some will question the legality of the hit, which was not penalized. While Cushing was actively involved in the play, he was far enough away from it where some skepticism seems warranted.

What is does for the 5-0 Texans remains to be seen. Houston is allowing 14.6 points per game - 4th-best in the NFL - and 275.6 points a game, 3rd-best in the league. Cushing leads the Texans with 22 tackles on the year, and has one interception and one forced fumble.

The Texans will be without star linebacker Brian Cushing for the rest of the season, as he reportedly tore his ACL in the first half of their 23-17 victory over the Jets on Monday:

Cushing has been an outstanding player for Houston since they drafted him with the No. 15 overall pick in 2009.

The Texans won’t know for sure what the extent of the injury is until Cushing has an MRI on Tuesday, but they’re fearing the worst, as reports surfaced immediately after the game that the team thought he had a torn ACL.

Cushing, the 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned a Pro Bowl bid in his rookie season and has not returned, although he earned All-Pro honors in 2011. Through five games he had tallied 29 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble for the undefeated Texans.

Cushing has been at the forefront of the Texans’ defense so far, collecting five total tackles, three of them solo. That defense has had success in keeping the Jets’ offense on their heels, holding them to 88 yards at the time of Cushing’s injury.