Houston’s Watt done for season
The Houston Texans face another long stretch without superstar defensive end J.J. Watt and their defense will be tested after he and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus both suffered season-ending injuries on Sunday night.
Watt broke his left leg and Mercilus tore a pectoral muscle in a 42-34 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Watt sustained a tibial plateau fracture to end his season early for the second straight year. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year returned in 2017 after missing the last 13 games of last season following his second back surgery.
The loss of Mercilus is the latest setback to Houston’s linebackers after veteran middle linebacker Brian Cushing was suspended for 10 games on Sept. 13 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
OBJ out until 2018
The winless New York Giants are going to be without offensive catalyst Odell Beckham Jr. for the rest of the season.
The Giants announced Beckham will have surgery for his broken left ankle later this week, that will end the receiver’s season.
The 24-year-old Beckham was hurt in Sunday’s 27-22 loss to Los Angeles when Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward fell on his ankle and pinned it to the turf.
Also, wide receiver Dwayne Harris also will have surgery today for a broken foot.
A Case for Keenum
Case Keenum led three second-half scoring drives in relief of Sam Bradford, and the Minnesota Vikings spoiled prized rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s debut with a 20-17 victory over the Bears in Chicago.
Kai Forbath kicked a 26-yard field goal in the closing seconds after Harrison Smith intercepted Trubisky, and the Vikings (3-2) came away with the win over the Bears (1-4).
In other news, the Vikings released former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley after only five days with the team, making room on the roster for another ex-Pat, receiver Michael Floyd, who finished a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy . . . .
Assistant quits
Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Chris Foerster, 55, resigned after the Dolphins beat Tennessee 16-10 on Sunday, and said he was seeking medical help after a social media video surfaced appearing to show him snorting three lines of a white powdery substance at a desk.
Bills lose TE Clay
Buffalo Bills starting tight end Charles Clay is out indefinitely after having surgery on his left knee. Coach Sean McDermott said Clay will miss “multiple weeks.” Clay was hurt while being tackled along the sideline in the 20-16 loss to the Bengals. Clay is second on the team with 20 catches . . . .
The New York Jets, who play the Patriots on Sunday, added receiver Jalin Marshall to the roster and waived cornerback Marcus Williams. Marshall was suspended the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers . . . .
The Los Angeles Rams waived safety Maurice Alexander. Alexander started the first four games of this season . . . .
The Detroit Lions released defensive end Armonty Bryant, who was suspended the first four games of this season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy . . . .
Tennessee Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan is day to day after an MRI exam on his left knee.