Watson, Luck both out as Texans host Colts

HOUSTON The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts will both start backup quarterbacks when they meet on Sunday after Deshaun Watson sustained a knee injury in practice on Thursday and is heading to injured reserve with Andrew Luck.

Watson suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and is out for the season, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the injury.

His injury comes on the same day that the Colts placed Luck on injured reserve. The move wasn’t that surprising considering Luck hasn’t played since undergoing shoulder surgery in January. The Colts (2-6) have struggled in his absence, and have lost three straight.

On Sunday when the Texans look for their fourth straight win over the Colts, they’ll do it with Tom Savage at quarterback.

Jacoby Brissett, who has appeared in each game for the Colts this season and has started the past seven after being traded from the Patriots on Sept. 2, will start for Indianapolis.

Watson’s injury is a huge blow for a team which looked to have finally solved years of problems at quarterback with the emergence of the talented 22-year-old. Watson’s 19 touchdown passes are tied for the league lead and are the most in NFL history through a player’s first seven games.

He leads all quarterbacks this season with 21 touchdowns overall and has thrown four or more touchdown passes in three games this season to join Fran Tarkenton as the only rookies in NFL history to do so.

Now they’ll have to rely on Savage, who started the season opener but was benched at halftime after managing just 62 yards passing and losing two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown, in a 29-7 loss to the Jaguars.

Watson’s injury is the latest setback for a team that lost three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt and linebacker Whitney Mercilus to seasonending injuries on Oct. 8.

Houston is in third place in the AFC South with a 3-4 record, behind the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars who are tied for the lead at 4-3.

Savage will have to perform much better than he did in the opener if the Texans hope to reach the playoffs for the third straight season.