Watson injury changes Texans dramatically

COLTS AT TEXANS Time: Noon. Line: Texans by 7. Total: 46. Records ( overall/ ATS): Colts 2- 6/ 4- 4; Texans 3- 4/ 5- 2.

So much for the story about the teams that regret passing on Deshaun Watson or are getting hammered by their fan bases for passing on Watson. ( Browns, Jets, Jaguars, Bears and 49ers in that order, for what it’s worth.)

Even with Jimmy Garoppolo getting traded from the Patriots to the 49ers, Watson was the hottest quarterback story in the NFL. The rookie from Clemson, drafted 12th overall by the Texans, set an NFL record with 19 touchdown passes in his first seven games, eclipsing Hall of Famer Kurt Warner’s 18 in 1999.

Regardless of the circumstances with the Texans, Watson’s immediate success was making a lot of quarterback- needy teams look bad — including the Bears, who could have drafted Watson with the No. 3 pick and not traded three draft picks to the 49ers to move up one spot for Mitch Trubisky.

All that conjecture and debate is on hold now after Watson reportedly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees in practice Thursday. He likely is out for the season.

That doesn’t change too many big- picture what- ifs. It’s not like Watson might not have suffered a knee injury if he was at Halas Hall this week ( or wherever the Browns practice). And he still figures to be a force whenever he returns. This just takes a little bit of the heat off.

The immediate impact will be felt in Houston. The Texans were 13- point favorites Sunday against the Colts with Watson at quarterback — and the pick here to cover easily, winning 42- 17. With Tom Savage on late notice ( or probably on any notice), the line dropped to seven in Las Vegas sportsbooks.

The Colts, though, have their own quarterback issues. It’s only a matter of how the Texans handle another shock to their system.

Pick: Texans 20, Colts 10.