Texans QB out for year after injury
HOUSTON — Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained a seasonending knee injury in practice on Thursday, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The rookie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and will go on injured reserve. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the injury. His injury is the latest blow to a team that lost three-time NFL defensive player of the year J.J. Watt and linebacker
Whitney Mercilus to seasonending injuries Oct. 8. Watson, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist who led Clemson to the national championship last season, had been a bright spot in a challenging year for the Texans (3-4). The 12th overall pick in this year’s draft was the AFC offensive player of the month for October after throwing for 1,171 yards with 16 touchdowns and running for 145 yards and another score. Clemson coach
Dabo Swinney talked about Watson’s injury Thursday and noted that Watson rebounded after tearing an ACL as a freshman at Clemson in 2014. “I talked to Deshaun late this afternoon, and we are disappointed,” Swinney said. “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.”
› INDIANAPOLIS —
Andrew Luck will spend a second offseason recovering from shoulder surgery. The Indianapolis Colts put Luck on injured reserve Thursday, marking the end of his season — in which he hasn’t played — and the beginning of a different rehab program that team officials believe will get their star quarterback on the field next fall. Colts general manager Chris Ballard made the announcement during a surprise news conference at the team complex. “I’ve heard all sorts of rumors about careerending,” Ballard said of the nature of Luck’s injury. “That’s not the case here. I’ve not got that from one doctor. Careerending is putting him out on the field before he’s ready to play. That’s where you should be concerned.” After having surgery in January for a partially torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, Luck missed all of Indy’s offseason workouts, all of training camp and the entire preseason. Luck didn’t even start throwing to teammates until early October and was limited to every other day. Just two weeks later, that stopped because of soreness in his right shoulder.
GOLF
› LAS VEGAS — Kim Meen-Whee birdied two of his final three holes for a 6-underpar 65 and a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s opening round at the PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The 25-year-old South Korean player birdied all three par-5 holes at TPC Summerlin — Nos. 13 and 16 on his first nine and No. 9 on his second nine. In second were
Ryan Blaum, Alex Cejka, John Huh and J.J. Spaun. Jimmy Stanger also was 5 under with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness. The group at 67 was a big one: Patrick Cantlay, Kevin Chappell, Bryson DeChambeau, Billy Horschel, Jason Kokrak, Kelly Kraft, Peter Malnati, Brett Stegmaier and
Daniel Summerhays. Baylor School graduates Stephan Jaeger and Luke List were among those tied for 63rd after opening 71s, with two other former Red Raiders also completing their first round. Keith Mitchell (74) was tied for 115th, with
Harris English (75) holding a share of 125th.
› ANTALYA, Turkey —
Nicolas Colsaerts, Joost Luiten and Haydn Porteous all shot 7-under 64s and were tied for the lead after the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open.
Padraig Harrington was a shot off the lead in the European Tour event, thanks to his lowest score of the year, and tied for fourth with Andres Romero.